February 2024 Newsletter

Celebrating Achievements and Looking Forward

Dear SBA Community,

February has been a month filled with excitement and accomplishments here at the Southland Basketball Association. From impressive athlete achievements to the successful launch of various programs, it's inspiring to witness the growth and dedication within our basketball community. Let's delve into some of the fantastic highlights from the past month.

Athlete Achievements:

We're incredibly proud of two of our athletes, Isaac Riwhi and Maggie Manson, for representing us at the Mainland Eagles camp in Rangiora. This opportunity allowed them to showcase their skills and compete against some of the best talent in the South Island.

Additionally, a huge congratulations to Charlotte Mcllwrick, Catalina Morris, Taungawai Wainui, Kiana Rangiuaia, Jason Columbus, and Jackson Timaloa for their selection to the New Zealand trials for U15's. Their hard work and dedication have truly paid off, earning them a well-deserved opportunity to compete at the national level.

Program Highlights:

- Girls Got Game kicked off with a bang, attracting 15 young girls every Sunday. It's heartwarming to see the enthusiasm and passion for the game among our female players.

- BNZ KIWIHOOPS has been a massive success, with over 65 kids participating weekly. It's fantastic to witness so many young athletes engaging with basketball and developing their skills.

- Summer Social League commenced, offering participants a fun and competitive platform to showcase their talents. The integration of Glory League has added an exciting dimension to the league, allowing players to relive their highlights.

- Our representative program is in full swing, with trials completed and teams named across various age groups. Teams are gearing up for preseason tournaments, and the Southland Storm is diligently preparing for the TUPU League in April.

Academy and Community Engagement:

Our Academy for Term 1 started strong, with 35-40 athletes showing dedication and commitment by attending early morning sessions on Mondays and Wednesdays. It's inspiring to see such a strong desire for improvement among our aspiring basketball stars.

We've also been actively engaged in our community, participating in various events such as the Otautau Primary leadership day, James Hargest Senior Campus junior trials, and offering coaching assistance at Verdon College.

SBA were proud to host a womens meeting to discuss the state of female involvement in basketball for 2023 and create a plan for 2024 which included introducing our womens committee that will spearhead this delivery in 2024.

In partnership with Secondary School Sports Southland, SBA participated in a day of fun with international students from 8 schools, along with other sports in southland, we had over 40 international students learn skills and play basketball as they built friendships and connections with others away from home.

Looking Ahead to March:

As we look forward to the upcoming month, here are some exciting events and initiatives to mark on your calendars:

- Junior High competition kicks off on March 5th, running every Tuesday.

- Hoops in Parks, a BBNZ initiative, will see the installation of quality hoops at Bluff Skatepark on March 9th from 1:30-4. Join us for a fun-filled day!

- U20 Pre-season in Gore is scheduled for March 23rd, providing our young talents with valuable preseason experience.

- SALS NBL begin

s for the Sharks on March 30th, offering a fantastic platform for our local players to showcase their skills in the new rapid league format.

As we continue to grow and thrive as a basketball community, let's support each other and celebrate the achievements and milestones along the way. Thank you to everyone for your ongoing dedication and passion for basketball.