Rotorua Boys' High net top result

TOP EFFORT: The Rotorua Boys' High School basketball team (pictured) made history for the school. PHOTO/SUPPLIED

One-point loss in semifinal best showing by school side

Rotorua Boys' High have made a name for themselves as a top basketball school in recent years.

Rotorua Boys' finished fourth at the New Zealand Secondary Schools Basketball Championships in Palmerston North last week - their highest finish at the tournament in the school's history.

They came agonisingly close to making the grand final but were beaten in their semifinal 77-76 in over-time by eventual champions Rangitoto College (Auckland).

Rotorua coach Mark Elers said their performance at the nationals capped off a great journey for most of his players, who were in their last year at school.

"They have been together since Year 9 and it has been a five-year journey," he said.

Some of the boys had even been playing together since the Rotorua under-12s and it was sad to see them finish up at Boys' High.

"It was an emotional time for us [at the nationals]. We shed a few tears and you do what you do but it is time for these boys to move on," he said.

"They leave with their heads held high and can be proud of what they have achieved during their years at Boys' High."

He said their success this year had a lot to do with them sticking together for so long.

"These boys have really put us on the map. But our school system is going to continue, and I'll coach the school team again next year.

"We will have a new group which we will work with and try and take them to the top eight [in the country] and beyond."

He said 10 of the 13 players that went to nationals were finishing up school this year and were heading to university or into the workforce next year.

Two of the school's star players, Logan Elers and Mikaere Watene, are looking at heading to the United States to attend college and play basketball next year.

? Rotorua Boys'
Bruce Mabagos, Logan Elers, Terrell Wichman, Mikaere Watene, Tamakari Vercoe-Kameta, Patrick Robertson, Joseph Garlick, Sharne Perham, Dillon Doe, Manaaki Vercoe-Kameta, Bailey Lacey-Rameka, Rangitautini Williams, Te Awanui Waaka; Mark Elers (head coach), Wayne Robertson (assistant coach), Daryl Watene (assistant coach).