The Premier A Basketball team had big wins in their pool games over Hawera, Upper Hutt, St Johns Hastings and Onslow to set up a quarter final with Napier Boys' High School.
Intensity was demanded by the coaches and the Prem A were ruthless all tournament. Up 18 - 4 at 1/4 time, Napier rallied but a big 3rd quarter by PNBHS who out-scored Napier by 21 points meant that the game was comfortably won at three quarter time. The Prem A went on to win 94 - 38. Jacob Collis top scored with 15 points.
The semi final against Wellington College was going to be tough. We lost to Wellington College at the beginning of Term 3 in our inter-school fixture. Wellington are big and strong and play very hard. Taine Evans was everywhere in this game. His hard, physical approach hurt Wellington and forced many turnovers. Tama Fa'amausili top scored with 16 points and another five players scored in double figures. Final score was a 103 - 57 win.
The final was against Rongotai College. At finals time, big players step up and there are none bigger than Callum McRae. Callum top scored with 28 points and got 19 rebounds. Captain Oscar Oswald scored 16 points but as with the whole tournament all the players had good contributions. Final result was a 100 - 71 point win. The team appreciated all the support they received throughout the tournament.
This was the first time PNBHS won Zone 3 Regionals since this format started in 2003. It was also pleasing to see that all four Super 8 teams at Zone 3 Regionals made the top six teams therefore all qualifying for Nationals.
Last years Zone 3 Regional winners did not make top 8 at Nationals so the team know that there is a tough 3 weeks of training heading into Nationals.
Below are some pictures taken at the Hawera and Napier games.
