The KBA entered two winning Boys Teams at this year’s BBNZ U13 Regional Championships in New Plymouth. Both local teams battled it out at the Grand Final in the C Grade. What an awesome achievement for basketball on the Coast!

The event was held over four days, from 9-12 October and the teams travelled to New Plymouth with coaches, managers and plenty of supporters.

The teams were entered as Kāpiti Raukawa and Kāpiti Suns. Kāpiti Raukawa is an Ōtaki team coached by Paxman Taurima. The team was a strong force at the tournament, winning all their games convincingly and taking the gold trophy for the C Grade. Well done Raukawa for a stunning result!

The Kāpiti Suns Team is coached by Darren Davis and Ben Brown. The team trained hard during Term 3 at Paraparaumu College Community Gym and played two pre-season tournaments in Levin in the run-up to the Championships.

They won all their games to get to the Final, beating off some tough competition from Levin (placed 3rd), Gisborne (5th), Manawatu (6th) New Plymouth (7th) and Taranaki (8th).

The BBNZ U13 Regionals is the calendar highlight for young basketball players and provides a fantastic opportunity to play competitively at a high level.

The Kāpiti Suns Team was ably Captained by Freddie Kreuzer and assisted by Vice Captain Te Waere Carr-Tepeeti. These two talented players showed great commitment and courage to ensure their team reached the finals. The boys played hard and fair in all their games and look forward to returning next year to go for gold!

Back Row L to R: Darren Davis (Coach), Taysian Davey-Tiotio, Theo Hobley, Tristan Chambers, Sam Scriven, Dayne MacInnes, Bailey Brown, Ben Brown (Coach) Front Row L to R: Niamh McManus (Manager), Isaac Davey-Tiotio, Nikau Davis, Freddie Kreuzer (Captain), Te Waere Carr-Tepeeti (Vice Captain), Jack Blake

Travelling as a team to New Plymouth for a 4-day tournament is a costly venture and the team could not have done it without the generous support of the community.

We’d like to thank all of our sponsors and donors who helped us get there – it was much appreciated and we think it paid off!

• Pub Charities
• Raumati/Paraparaumu Community Board
• Vaughano’s Diesel Services Ltd
• Delaney Mitsubishi
• Thorne Electrical
• Banks Crane Hire
• Davis Building
• Strand Painters & Decorators
• Devoir Ltd
• Mainstream Systems
• Beachside Dentals
• Susie Mills Law
• Finman Services
• Legacy Builders
• Pennz-corp
• BCE Catering
• Tommy’s Real Estate
• Kapiti Radiators & Tyres
• RDL Group Ltd
• C & C Plumbing & Gas
• Kapiti Mortgages & Insurance Ltd
• Judith Fuge Dance School
• NZ Proud
• Nailgun Solutions
• Rent Me Rentals
• SBA (Small Business Accounting)
• Apple Tree Design
• Coastal Fasteners
• Custom Cutz
• PlaceMakers Horowhenua-Kapiti
• Fisherman’s Table
• Zip Plumbing Plus
• FM Plumbing and Drainage
• Mana Bearing Supplies
• Breakers Restaurant
• McDonalds Restaurant
• Basketball New Zealand (BBNZ)
• Panhead Craft Brewery
• Carters Kapiti
• Bundaberg
• Jolly Miller
• New World Kapiti
• Wellington Scaffolding Ltd
• David Reid Homes