Basketball

Basketball

Basketball at Rangitoto made tremendous strides this season, en route to becoming one of Auckland’s premier schools for the sport and solidifying itself as a force to be reckoned with. With a strong representation of the school through 25 teams, multiple titles won at both Harbour and wider-Auckland competitions, and a large showing of Rangitoto students at the representative level (both regional and national) it is fair to say that the season can be considered a great success.

It was clear that the school was due for a successful year on the court due to the amazing turnout at trials. Despite being disrupted by another Covid-19 lockdown, enthusiasm remained strong, and the basketball programme put together 25 teams with 244 players total. The majority of Rangitoto’s teams competed in the Harbour basketball competition, which started in Week 1 of Term 2. Two of the teams entered in the Harbour competition were our Junior Premier Girls and Boys teams. Coach of the Junior Premier Girls, Mr Buckley, said, “The Girls Junior Premier side had a mixed year in terms of results, but had huge gains in terms of player development and team chemistry”. The girls “displayed a competitive spirit” on the court and this was highlighted by “a big win over Carmel, who went on to place second (losing in the final by one point), and a 15-point win over Long Bay, a team that we had lost to earlier in the season by seven”. He had high praise for his team saying, “The future of Rangitoto Girls Basketball is looking bright with some young talented, committed, and passionate players coming through”. Our Junior Premier Boys team was led by Coach Jemma Palmer. She taught the boys what it meant to be a Premier team and this showed through the teams great discipline and on-court chemistry. The Junior Premier Boys ended up winning the top Junior Boys division at Harbour with a big 53–39 win over Westlake.

However, it was not just Rangitoto’s Premier teams that had success this season. The Under 19 A team took home the crown of their division, winning in nail-biting fashion, 44–40 against Glenfield College. The Harbour Junior Boys second division final saw two Rangitoto teams face of for the title—Junior B Boys against Junior Magenta Boys. Both teams fought hard, but it was Junior Magenta that came out on top.

Overall, it was a very successful year for Rangitoto basketball. Though teams missed out on opportunities to represent the school at tournament level and having their seasons cut short, all players, coaches, managers, and parent helpers can look back and be proud of how their seasons went.

Premier Boys

There was certainly a buzz felt throughout the school about the Premier Boys team heading into the 2021 season. Led by the coaching trio of Kenny Stone, Brad Riley, and Clint Fox, along with a talent-rich team, the Premier Boys were set to make a bold statement.

The team was once again competing in Auckland’s Premier Basketball grade, the top competition in the Auckland region. The season started on the first week of Term 2 in a game against Liston College. With a strong defensive showing and evident team chemistry, the boys beat Liston by 59 points, in a convincing 102–43 victory. Their fantastic form continued into their following games and led to a nine game winning streak before being stopped by Auckland Grammar, with a loss of 54–80, which would go on to be their only one for the season. A strong bounce-back victory against Saint Kentigern put the team back on track and they went on to win their remaining games for the season. They finished with a 13–1 record and placed first overall at the conclusion of pool play, with a great amount of momentum heading into the semi-final.

The stage was set for a great game of basketball. The boys were once again facing off against Saint Kentigern, who they had beaten twice in pool play—a team that was hungry for revenge. At the end of the first quarter, the score was within single digits, with Rangitoto leading 20–11. The team went on to display why they were the top of the table and dominated the remainder of the game, winning in a convincing fashion, 80–58.

Premier Girls

After their tough 2020 season that was cut short due to Covid-19, the Premier Girls basketball team headed into this year with redemption as their main goal. The appointment of Justine Reed (head coach of New Zealand’s 3-on-3 Women’s basketball team) was just what the team needed, and her impact was felt straight away with her vast knowledge and experience of the game.

Unfortunately, the team started off with two defeats after tough-fought games against St Mary’s College and Epsom Girl’s Grammar. Round three saw the team travelling to Massey High School where the crowd was witness to a fantastic Rangitoto performance. The girls beat Massey on their own court in a convincing 82–66 victory. The next week the girls dropped a game to Baradene, and then immediately followed that up with a win in a tight contest against Carmel. This pattern continued throughout the season as the girls established their team chemistry. Towards the back end of the season the team played host to Carmel and put on a show for the home crowd. Three-pointers were coming in bunches, and the ball movement was spectacular. This 29-point smashing of Carmel was easily the highlight of the season. The Premier Girls team finished sixth overall in a tough competition. Just as the team was about to compete against Westlake Boys High School in the grand final match, the country went into an immediate lockdown due to Covid-19, meaning the game had to be cancelled. As Rangitoto placed first overall, they were crowned the champions of Auckland for 2021.

With the extension of the lockdown period, all winter sport events throughout the country were cancelled, meaning that the team was unable to compete in this year’s nationals. The momentum that was built heading into the tournament season led many to believe that Rangitoto was on its way to winning their third national championship. It was a bitter-sweet end for the Premier Boys team this season. However, with the level of talent on the team and their unmatched performance displayed throughout the year, they have left a big impact in Rangitoto’s basketball program and one that will be remembered going forward.

Amidst the girls’ preparation for upcoming nationals, New Zealand went into lockdown, and the event had to be cancelled, putting an end to the team’s season. Despite competing in a tough Auckland competition and once again having their season cut short, the team should look back on the 2021 season with a sense of pride. The players showed a lot of character on the court and always remained determined to do better. The Premier Girls have built a strong base going forward and will be a team to watch out for in 2022.