Boys’ High, Girls’ High back at nationals

Boys’ High’s key players will be New Zealand under-17 players guard Haize Walker and forward Callum McRae, as well as New Zealand under-16 player, guard Oscar Oswald and shooting guard and captain Tungane Maine-More.

Forward Philip Turia is away with the New Zealand volleyball team in Australia, so will miss the tournament, but has been replaced by guard Isaac Faamausili.

Boys’ High play Te Awamutu and Wellington on Monday, Middleton Grange and Auckland Grammar on Tuesday, then Cashmere on Wednesday, before playoffs start on Thursday.

Girls’ High were given a wild card entry to the tournament, having finished seventh at the regional qualifiers, but a school pulled out, so Girls’ High replaced them.

Girls’ High coach Jason Kuru said consistency is something they have to work on.

‘‘We did very well against Wellington [Girls’ College],’’ he said. ‘‘They’re probably the pick to win the tournament. They beat us by two points.’’

Kuru is aiming for the middle eight

Girls’ High’s important players will be New Zealand under-17 player, forward Maia Watling, and high-scoring power forward Nicole Cutler, who has been invited to trial for the Junior Tall Ferns.

They are in pool B with Napier Girls’ High School, Christchurch Girls’ High School, Hamilton Girls’ High School, Marlborough Girls’ College and Hutt Valley High School.

Girls’ High play Napier and Marlborough on Monday, Christchurch on Tuesday, then Hutt Valley and Hamilton on Wednesday, with playoffs starting on Thursday.

The Manukura boys team are in the A championships for smaller schools and play Kavanagh College (Dunedin) and Melville High School (Hamilton) on Monday, Te Kuiti High School, which will be broadcast on Maori TV, and Aranui High School (Christchurch) on Tuesday and Stratford High School on Wednesday, then have playoffs on Thursday.