Uphill battle for Northern Cape teams at National Basketball Championships

BASKETBALL hit Bloemfontein with a bang when the highly-anticipated Under-18 national Basketball championships kicked off with an almost frenzied excitement as all nine provincial teams gathered to compete in this thrilling tournament.

The tournament started on Sunday, July 2 and ends today (Friday, July 7), and thus far the Northern Cape teams have bravely displayed remarkable determination and heart in the face of some formidable opponents.

In the girl’s category, the NC team faced a daunting challenge when they went up against the well-oiled and physically superior KwaZulu-Natal squad. Undeterred by the odds stacked against them, the NC Under-18s fought valiantly throughout the match. Yet, despite the effort they put in, they ultimately succumbed to their opponents in a crushing 55-14 defeat.

However, undeterred by this initial setback, the NC girls displayed tremendous courage when they faced tournament favourites Gauteng. In a match that showcased their gritty determination, the NC team suffered another big loss, going down 77-12, but making Gauteng work for every point.

Meanwhile, on the boys’ side, the NC Under-18s encountered a similar uphill battle, facing a monumental clash against a more experienced Limpopo team. Despite displaying pockets of brilliance, the boy’s team ultimately succumbed to their opponents, in a 69-38 defeat.

Nonetheless, they can hold their heads high due to the fact that they never submitted meekly, but fought to the end.

Although the results might not have favoured the Northern Cape teams in the initial stages of the championship, the players have shown immense heart, determination, and passion for the game. They have vowed to continue representing their province with undiminished pride.

With the championships winding down, the Northern Cape teams are set to regroup and fine-tune their strategies. They now aim to rectify their early setbacks and prove their mettle in the remaining matches.