Ngaruawahia High School Yearbooks 2010-2012 Ngaruawahia High School Yearbook 2011 | Page 12

‘A’ Grade National Secondary School Champions!

Kingsley Smith (Captain), Tharyn Martin, TJ Beggs, Zebulon Reid, Aubrey Fretwell, Jared Solomon,
Jordan Cotter, Dane Hemopo, Te Motu Gray, Raana Dennis, Jarrod Foggin. Coach Ray Cameron in front.
Ngaruawahia athletes have taken another sporting scalp
with the town’s high school basketball team returning from a

Cotter sealed the win in the dying minutes of the game.
The teams were locked at 82-82 with less than two minutes

New Zealand basketball competition as national champions.
Waikato Pistons shooting guard Ray Cameron coached the
team to a 84-82 victory over rivals Nga Taiatea Wharekura in
the single A National School Championships (schools with
under 600 students).
It is the first time the school has competed in a national
basketball tournament since 1981.
Cameron was effusive in his praise of the rookie team,
who lost by 30 points in their first clash with Nga Taiatea at
the beginning of the regional season.
‘‘It (the final) was a nail-biter but we had belief,’’ he said.

on the clock when Cotter slotted a critical 2-pointer to put
Ngaruawahia ahead.
Nga Taiatea fought back but missed a crucial attempt to
equalise. Cotter nabbed the rebound off the failed attempt
and stymied the game until the dying seconds were up.

‘‘It shows we have made massive strides. Even though we
are small we can accomplish anything.’’
Ngaruawahia players Raana Dennis and Jordan Cotter
were standouts in the match scoring 37 and 23 points
respectively.

Ngaruawahia High School principal Robyn Roa said the
players won by their ‘‘guts and determination’’.

In our newsletter we congratulated our senior boys
basketball team for their efforts in participating in the
Regional’s which were held in Rotorua. From this tournament
they went on to the Nationals which were held in Palmerston
North.
The final ended up between Nga Taiatea and ourselves.

Captain Kingsley Smith said winning the final was the
‘‘best feeling in the world’’.
‘‘It put our name on the map. I reckon basketball is going
to be way better ( in Ngaruawahia) now because everyone
can see we’ve got potential.’’

It was a very tight game with the scores pretty much even
after each quarter but finally we ended up the winners.
Three of our players, Jordan Cotter, Aubrey Fretwell
and Raana Dennis were named in the tournament team and
Raana was chosen as the most valuable player in the
tournament. What a great effort by all.