Page 122 - NHS Beyond the Classroom

NZ “A” Grade Basketball Champions 2011

Kingsley Smith (Captain), Tharyn Martin, TJ Beggs, Zebulon Reid, Aubrey Fretwell, Jared Solomon,
Jordan Cotter, Dane Hemopo, Te Motu Gray, Raana Dennis & Jarrod Foggin.
Coach Ray Cameron

Ngaruawahia athletes have taken another Cotter sealed the win in the dying minutes of
sporting scalp with the Ngaruawahia High School the game. The teams were locked 82-82 with less
basketball team returning from a New Zealand than two minutes on the clock when cotter slotted
Basketball Competition as National Champions. a crucial 2-pointer to put Ngaruawahia ahead.
Waikato Pistons shooting guard Ray Nga Taiatea fought back but missed a crucial
Cameron coached the team to a 84-82 victory over attempt to equalize, Cotter nabbed the rebound off
rivals Nga Taiatea Wharekura in the single Zone A the failed attempt and stymied the game until the
National Championships (Schools with under 600 dying seconds were up.
students). Captain Kingsley Smith said that winning
It is the first time the school has competed in the final was “the best feeling in the world”.
a national basketball tournament since 1981. “It put our name on the map. I reckon that
Cameron was effusive in his praise of the basketball is going to be way better now (in
rookie team, who lost by 30 points in their first Ngaruawahia) because everyone can see we’ve got
clash Nga Taiatea at the beginning of the regional potential.”
season. Ngaruawahia High School Principal Robyn
“It (the final) was nail-biter but we had Roa said the players won by their “guts and
belief,” he said. determination”.
“It shows we have made massive strides. Three of the Ngaruawahia players were
Even though we are small we can accomplish named in the Tournament Team: Jordan Cotter,
anything.” Aubrey Fretwell and Raana Dennis. Raana was
Ngaruawahia players Raana Dennis and chosen as the most valuable player in the
Jordan Cotter were stand-outs in the match, tournament.
scoring 37 and 23 points respectively.