Basketball Girls take national title

5 October 2019

L-R:, Alana Paewai, Charlisse Leger-Walker, Waiata Jennings, Grace McGirr, Ella Bradley, Jayze Waihi, Toha Kemp, Ahi Williams, Dominque Stephens, Lyric Vaetoe, Emma Baker, Kaylah Waihi, Leanne Walker (Coach)

In the first week of the school holidays, St Peter’s claimed their fourth ‘AA Girls Basketball title in five years with a 78-66 victory against Waikato neighbours Hamilton Girls’ High School at the 2019 Schick Secondary Schools National Basketball Championships in Palmerston North.

This is the pinnacle of what has been a remarkable season, the team travelled to Greece in April to finish 5th in the world ISF World Champs – losing only one game to Greece in the final quarter.

From then on, the team has been unbeaten, playing a visiting Japanese Under-16 National team, winning the Waikato Secondary Schools Competition, Zone 2 Regional Tournament and now the national title. Coach Leanne Walker is understandably very proud of the girls, particularly her daughter Charlisse, who has played in the team for the past 5 years and was named Most Valuable Player at the recent tournament.