St Stithans slam dunks
LYME PARK – The best basketball is played at the St Stithians Colege Basketball U16 Tournament.
LYME PARK – Slam dunks, long shots and precision passes were made all day, every day, during the St Stithians College Basketball U16 Tournament.
The second annual tournament attracted 24 teams from schools across the country from 15 to 17 February. They pitted their skills against each other in round-robin matches in four pools before quarter-finals, semi-finals and finals raised the stakes.
The games were played on the beautiful St Stithians College courts in Lyme Park when the weather was good, and on the indoor Wits University courts when it rained on the first day.
The final day also saw ‘dads and lads’ games played and the moms and daughters at the tournament also held their own shootout. When it was time for the final of the tournament, all watched on as another cracking game of basketball was played. St George’s College from Harare, Zimbabwe, narrowly pipped Kearsney College from KwaZulu-Natal 44–43.
“The quality of basketball was extremely good and we had lots of close games this year,” said the director of basketball at St Stithians, Seann Rubineck. “Many of the games were won by only two or four points so it was very competitive, and I was very impressed with how well everyone played.”
Rubineck added that it was a new experience for many of the travelling teams to play indoors, which meant some good had come out of the bad weather on the first day. He said a highlight for him was seeing the development team from Soweto, Morris Isaacson High School, play so well against the private schools and even record a win against St Peter’s College.
“Next year the tournament will be even bigger and better. We are looking at getting a team from Philadelphia in the USA to come through and play. We will also have more teams next year.”
Details: St Stithians College 011 577 6000.
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