Certain bouncy feeling at high school

It's a slam dunk for two Stratford High School senior basketball teams who have qualified for the national secondary school finals.

The senior women's team played hard through the Basketball New Zealand secondary schools Zone 3 premiership tournament and narrowly placed fourth after losing to Mana (Kapiti Coast) in the play-off for third, with a final score to Mana of 43-42.

Stratford High School sports co-ordinator Phillipa Merson is proud of the girls.

"They have really put in a great effort through the local competition and nationals will be a great way for them to finish off the season".

The senior men's team will also travel to Palmerston North for the national finals.

Phillipa says while the boys didn't have to qualify for their spot in the competition, they are just as excited to play.

Both the teams will be competing in the A division, which includes all schools with a roll of under 600.

The national competition begins next week and runs from Monday through to Thursday. "Both teams are training hard this week to get really for the competition, and also fundraising hard for the trip," says Phillipa.