117 BASKETBALL 1ST TEAM Opening season The year produced tremendous results and achievements and the team set the bar high for other teams to try to emulate.We ranked second in the country at the end of the opening season and were privileged to have four players selected for the KZN U20 team: Langa Mhlongo, Morena Malakoana, Ntando Cele and Jeremy Maarschalk. Jeremy was selected to be par t of the SA U 20 team to par ticipate in the Zone 6 games in Mozambique. He is the first Kearsney boy to be selected for a national basketball team. We beat DHS for the first time in the school’s history as Morena “Stone” Malakoana scored the winning basket with a one second left on the clock. It was an exciting finish to a very tense game.We finished in third place at the St John’s tournament, the highest place we have managed to date, and finished in four th place at the DHS tournament – after narrowly losing to St Albans in the semi-final and then not having the legs to finish off Pretoria Boys in the play-off. The team was ably captained by Jeremy Maarschalk, with Langa Mhlongo as vice. However, the hear t and soul of the team was Morena Malakoana who time and again came up with a big defensive or offensive play which helped lift the team when it was needed most.The boys developed a great spirit and worked hard at improving all aspects of their play. It is also impor tant to note that eight players achieved over 50 caps: Jeremy Maarschalk, Langa Mhlongo, Morena Malakoana, Ntando Cele, Alber t OjoAramakudu, Myles Lundall, Dhirren Pillay and Khanyisani Xaba.This will be a team long remembered at Kearsney for their achievements. Played: 24 Won: 20 Lost: 4 Closing season The team had a different look and feel in the closing season. Alber t Ojo-Aramokudu and Kane Zagar took on the mantle and worked hard at building the team’s confidence and spirit.We played well but in the more physical games we were found wanting and will have to improve to be successful next year.The team did well to finish in second place in the independent schools tournament. Craig Gilchrist was instrumental in helping to mould this team’s play with his innovative coaching strategies. Craig spent a season in Germany as assistant coach for the Gleeson 46’s, a first division basketball team. Once this young team begins to believe in their ability and executing the pattern of play that has been designed for them then, I believe, the sky is the limit. Myles Delport Played: 15 Won: 9 Lost: 6 BASKETBALL 1ST Back row: M van Niekerk, A Ojo-Aramokudu, N Wykerd, D Pillay, K Zagar, K Sibande, M Buthelezi, M Lundall Front row: M Malakoana, J Maarschalk (captain), Mr M Delport (coach), L Mhlongo (captain), N Cele With grateful thanks: “Never look down on any one unless you’re helping them up” Dirk, Mari, Ellen & Juan Pretorius
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