Tauranga could become the hub of 3x3 basketball as the city hosts its second national secondary schools champs, showcasing some of country's top age group basketball talent.
Basketball New Zealand's senior tournament co-ordinator Conor O'Fee said more than 500 games were being played at this week's 2019 Secondary Schools 3x3Champs in Mount Maunganui, making it a massive event for the host association to run.
"They're [Tauranga Basketball Association] looking at being the hub of 3x3," he said.
O'Fee said there were many benefits to the competition, including bringing more people to a city, showcasing the association and city's venues, while also providing a tournament for local athletes to showcase their talent to scouts.
There are close to 600 basketball players, making up 128 teams representing 52 schools from around New Zealand competing at the tournament, held at Trustpower Arena until tomorrow.
Among them are three Bay of Plenty teams competing in the top Senior Boys Elite grade, including Tauranga Boys' College in Pool A and Rotorua Boys' High School A and Mount Maunganui College Mounties in Pool B.
At the end of day one, Tauranga Boys' College sit eighth on the Pool A ladder while in Pool B, Mounties are seventh and Rotorua in third place.
Rotorua Boys' High School's Tristan Karaka. Photo / George Novak
The tournament, which started yesterday, showcases some of the best basketball talent at secondary school level, with junior and senior boys and girls playing at open and elite levels.
Tauranga City Basketball Association general manager Mark Rogers said this year's competition was the second they had hosted, with a 22 per cent increase in teams on the 2018 nationals.
He believed the sport's popularity was attributed to many factors, including the speed and pace of the games as well as the overall growth in the traditional 5x5 basketball format.
"It's great for the local schools that we're able to host it," Rogers said.
"These are some of the best athletes at high school."
He said without the 91 volunteers who were helping out over the three days, during business hours, they would not be able to host the event.
Rotorua Boys' High School's Tristan Karaka. Photo / George Novak
Rotorua Boys' High School had five teams competing across both the junior and senior divisions and director of basketball Theo N Tait said he was happy with how the start of day one was going.
The school's B team, competing in the Senior Boys Open grade started their tournament campaign with a 21-9 win against Pukekohe High School Red in round one.
Of their four games on day one, they only lost one, going down to Westlake Boys' High School 22-15.
The Rotorua Boys' High School B team will play St Johns Hamilton Hawks at 9.40am today and go into day two with a third place on their Pool A ladder.
Tait said it was too early to tell how the school's teams would finish the tournament, but they were always hoping for the win.
Rotorua's Keden Wichman in action at the champs. Photo / George Novak
A three-point shootout and dunk contest will also be held as part of the national champs on Friday. Last year's Dunk Contest winner was former Mount Maunganui College student Shalom Broughton, who was this year competing for Saint Kentigern College in the senior elite grade.
Bay teams competing at 2019 Secondary Schools 3x3 Champs: Junior Boys Elite: Tauranga Boys' College; Rotorua Boys' High School; Mount Maunganui College Karaka; Taupo-nui-a-Tia A. Junior Boys Open: Aquinas College; Te Kura Kokiri Tane; Mount Maunganui College Kowhai; Taupo-nui-a-Tia B. Junior Girls Elite: Rotorua Girls' High School A; Mount Maunganui College Kikorangi. Junior Girls Open: Rotorua Girls' High School B; Waihi College; Mount Maunganui College Parauri; Aquinas College. Senior Boys Elite: Tauranga Boys' College; Rotorua Boys' High School A; Mount Maunganui College Mounties. Senior Boys Open: Rotorua Boys' High School B; Rotorua Boys' High School Dev 1; Rotorua Boys' High School Dev 2; Mount Maunganui College Mangu; Te Kura Kokiri Tane; Pāpāmoa College. Senior Girls Elite: Rotorua Girls' High School A; Te Kura Kokiri Wahine; Mount Maunganui College Whero. Senior Girls Open: Tauranga Girls' College 1; Mount Maunganui College Mawhero; Rotorua Girls' High School B; Tauranga Girls' College 2.
