Brothers team up at Waimea
‘‘Let’s make some waves.’’
That is the mantra motivating Marsh brothers, Tyler and Jay, ahead of the New Zealand secondary schools basketball championships in Palmerston North this week.
The two siblings are excited to be sharing the journey.
In particular because, the school’s senior A team qualified for the national tournament for the first time since 2009 by finishing fourth in the South Island.
Tyler, the team’s starting point guard, said it has been pretty special to play alongside his little bro in 2017, the small forward progressing from the senior B to senior A team at the beginning of the year.
‘‘It’s awesome,’’ the 17-year-old said. ‘‘Obviously having my teammates as my brothers but this guy here just makes it all a lot more special.’’
Tyler represented New Zealand at under-18 level this year and remains the youngest player to take the court in the National Basketball League after making his Nelson Giants debut as a 14-year-old.
But despite those honours making him one of the most promising players in the country, this will be his first time competing at the New Zealand secondary schools championships.
‘‘It started once TI [Tom Ingham] came to the school. He picked up the programme and ever since then it’s always been the goal,’’ Tyler said.
‘‘Last year we struggled on the first day of South Islands when we lost our first two games but since then it’s just been building and this is what we have been building for.
‘‘I just love playing for the school and playing with my mates, so it makes it all good.’’
Jay is yet to cement himself in the starting five but is enjoying the step up in intensity.
He played for Tasman in the national under-15 final earlier this year but expected the New Zealand secondary schools championships to provide an even tougher test.
‘‘That was pretty big but seeing a lot older guys and playing with a lot older guys at a very high level is going to be a really good experience,’’ the 14-year-old said.
Waimea is led by another Nelson Giants player, Riley Bensemann.
The team will contest Pool D alongside Rangitoto College, Auckland Grammar School, Hamilton Boys’ High School, Melville High School and Middleton Grange.