Kaipara primary schools fight for hoop honours

 

The end of 2018 saw the Kaipara Primary Schools Basketball Competition wrapped up, highlighted by a tense final in the Year 5/6 Grade between Ruawai Primary and Mangawhai Beach School. 

The competition had been running for seven weeks at Kaiwaka Sports Association, running two grades, Year 3/4 Mixed and Year 5/6 mixed. 
Local Schools that participated in the competition include Mangawhai Beach School, Kaiwaka Primary, Te Kura Kaupapa Maori o Ngaringaomatariki, Maungaturoto Primary and Ruawai Primary. 

“The skill level of the kids grew exponentially throughout the competition,” said Kaipara Basketball Association chairman Blake Worsfold. “It was great to see kids that might not normally be involved in sport get out there and enjoy themselves.”

Both grand finals were played with immense passion and commitment and went down to the wire. 

The Year 3 and 4 final pitted Ngaringaomatariki against Mangawhai. Led by Matthias Cameron the local kura played a fast and aggressive style of basketball that had them on top of the table heading into the final. However, it was MBS who came out of the gates with a bang. Liam Brennan and Tatiana Makea proved to be a 1-2 combo that Ngaringaomatariki struggled to cope with. Makea was particularly dominant on both ends of the court, blocking shots, rebounding the ball and passing to open teammates. 

The Year 5 and 6 final was a real arm wrestle. Led by Northland representatives Spencer Vinnels and Wiremu Makea, Mangawhai came into the game favourites to come home with the championship. Finals however are always tight games and Ruawai made sure this one was no exception, clamping down on Makea’s elite passing game and converted enough buckets to sneak home by one point. Ruawai had great crowd support and this lifted their spirits in the final moments of the game. It was a true team effort with all of their players making crucial plays down the stretch. 

Kaipara Basketball Association has announced they plan to run the competition again next year, as well as other age group competitions, to meet the demand of basketball’s surge in popularity in the region.
 

RESULTS Overall: Year 3 & 4 Playoff for 3rd & 4th Maungaturoto 2 vs Kaiwaka 18; Year 3 & 4 Final Ngaringaomatariki 22 vs Mangawhai 25; Year 5 & 6 Playoff 3rd & 4th Kaiwaka 23 vs Ngaringaomatariki 24; Year 5 & 6 Final Ruawai 15 vs Mangawhai 14. Individual Competition MVP: Year 5 & 6 MVP Blake Jenyns (Ruawai); Year 3 & 4 MVP Tatiana Makea (Mangawhai). Tournament teams: Year 3 & 4 Liam Brennan (Mangawhai), Tatiana Makea (Mangawhai), Matthias Cameron (Ngaringaomatariki), Te Ramaroa Waata (Ngaringaomatariki), Trinity Ulisala (Kaiwaka). Year 5 & 6 Psalm Cameron (Ngaringaomatariki), Anahera Worsfold (Kaiwaka), Wiremu Makea (Mangawhai), Blake Jenyns (Ruawai), JZ Huriwaka (Ruawai).

Kaipara primary school basketballers following their play-offs and finals.