BASKETBALL

The Rangiora HS boys narrowly missed qualifying for the Nationals at the AA Secondary Schools Basketball Premierships in Dunedin.

RHS made the quarter-finals but lost to 60-77 and were then edged 75-80 by Burnside in the 5-8 semi-finals to miss out on qualifying for nationals. A 73-63 win over Christchurch Boys’ had RHS finish seventh.

Kaiapoi HS avoided the wooden spoon bt beating Central Southland College 85-63 to finish 23rd.

For the first time in 12 tournaments, the Rangiora HS girls failed to qualify for the nationals finishing eighth.

In quarter-finals, RHS were beaten by eventual finalists Christchurch Girls’ 30-77.

Then in the crucial 5-8 semifinal RHS lost to St Andrew’s College –spearheaded former RHS student and Junior Tall Fern Charlotte Whittaker – 82-39.

RHS lost their final match 43-68 against Craighead to finish eighth.

Meanwhile, at the South Island A Championships (fro smaller schools) in Blenheim the Rangiora New Life boys finished sixth to also just miss out on qualifying for the A National Championships.

In the junior tournament in Ashburton, the RHS girls finished fifth after beating Waimea 59-43 while KHS were 15th and RNLS 16th.

In the boys, RHS were 15th and KHS 22nd. eight after a 1-0 win over St Mary’s.

RHS then beat St Peter’s (Cambridge) 3-0 in the quarter-finals.

They then fought hard but went down to eventual champions St Kentigerns 2-3 in the semifinals.

At the Jim Wishart Men’s Tournament in Christchurch, Kaiapoi HS finished eighth and Rangiora HS ninth.