Basketball: WIS sixth in first attempt at Games

WIS team. Photo/File

Wanganui Intermediate School justified their first inclusion in the NZCT Aims Games in Tauranga with a final placing of sixth among the 36 school teams in the boys basketball competition yesterday.

WIS had confirmed they were going into the quarter-finals before they met Orewa College on Thursday but still convincingly beat the Aucklanders 38-11.

That left them second-top qualifiers from Section A and with a match with Rosmini College, who proved their dominance with a 41-16 win.

The Takapuna school then went on to win their way straight to the tournament final.

WIS rebounded to win their next match with Christchurch's Cobham Intermediate 42-34, which set them up for the playoff for fifth/sixth with Mt Maunganui Intermediate yesterday.

WIS narrowly lost 39-37.

Captain Kopere Tanoa was then named in the tournament team for his efforts over the previous five days, with WIS ultimately winning eight of 11 games against some strong sides from traditional youth basketball hotbeds.

"It doesn't happen often," said coach Terry Tanoa.

"I'm very proud of our boys, they regularly only pick the tournament team from top four players.

"The tournament itself is just massive, they're pretty sharp here.

"Every other team in the competition, they know who we are now. It's put Wanganui on the map for basketball."

WIS debuted at the games this year by sending their basketball team.

They were among 228 schools nationwide taking part in the variety of codes in Tauranga, which was a sharp jump from last year's 10th anniversary games which boasted 193 schools and 6500 athletes.