‘Teamwork makes the dream work’ for NIS basketball team
Back row, from left: Keeley Redwood, Jose Mosquera Bellaizac, Charlie Heathfield, Cesar Mosquera Bellaizac, Felix Laird. Front row: Brigham Samuela, Mason Kerdemelidis (vice-captain), Bawi Lian Thang (captain), Bawi Tha Thawng Zaathang, Te Amorangi Rewha-Kokiri-Dunn and Tony Jenkins (coach). Photo: Supplied.
Nelson Intermediate School’s boys’ basketball team not only got the funding assist they were looking for to attend the South Island Primary Basketball Tournament last week - they also won it.
In March, the team put a call out through the Nelson Weekly for sponsorship to get to the tournament in Rangiora.
They needed $3000, and thankfully, a group of local businesses came on board, including Atawhai Takeaways, OS2 Performance Apparel, Renovate Me, Mitre 10 Mega, and Projects and Ventures, to allow them to get to the four-day tournament.
The team, coached by teacher Tony Jenkins, took out the Boys Open 5x5 grade, winning the final 56-55 in overtime against Horomaka.
It was the school’s debut at the competition, and they also won the Whakawhānaungatanga Spirit Award for good sportsmanship, teamwork, and determination.
“That was the icing on the cake for the boys,” says Tony.
He says, for some of the boys, it was their first time travelling out of Nelson overnight.
“There were definitely a few nerves.”
The team was placed in a tough pool, with three of the teams finishing in the top three. They only lost one game, against Horomaka, whom they met again in the final showdown.
Tony says he was “proud” of the boys’ sportsmanship in the semi-final against a North Canterbury team.
“One of the North Canterbury players went down with an injury with about 20 seconds to go.
“All five boys from Nelson Intermediate ran over to him straight away to help him up and get him back to the bench. After the game, they were all going over giving support and hugs.”
Tony says they weren’t expecting much crowd support at the final match - but that wasn’t the case at all.
“The whole North Canterbury squad came down to support us, because of the boys’ sportsmanship in the previous game,” he says.
“This gave our boys a big lift of confidence, knowing we had support. Then, throughout the game we just seemed to get more and more support coming our way from the crowd. It was an awesome atmosphere... I couldn’t be prouder of the boys.”
Tony says they were all “super stoked” to win and they couldn’t have done it without all the people and businesses that donated to their trip.
“Our sponsors along with our fundraisers made it a free trip for all the boys and we had a bit extra, so they got to have a great experience at Orana Wildlife Park and QEII Pool.”
The team also organised a 3x3 fundraiser tournament in March for local primary schools which saw seven teams enter and just over $600 raised.
Team member Bawi Tha Thawng Zaathang says the highlight of the tournament for him was “meeting new teams”.
Felix Laird adds the trip was “quite nerve-racking but so much fun”.
“I am so happy our team fought so hard the whole time and never gave up. Because of this, we ended up winning. I wish I could do it again.”
Keeley Redwood says he learnt to “always be respectful to your teammates and opposition, whether you win or lose”.
“Teamwork makes the dream work.”