SHARPEVILLE.- It was a battle of youngsters when Vaal Stars Basketball Club hosted the Annual Junior 2X3 Basketball Tournament at Tshepiso Sports Complex on Saturday.

This basketball tournament saw the local schools battle throughout the day to be crowned the champions. It was a great day for the development of basketball with parents coming to support their little ones.

Speaking to Sedibeng Ster Sport, Pinky Machobane who is behind this initiative hailed this year’s tournament as a great success and confirmed that the tournament attracted more schools compared to last year. This was the second year Vaal Basketball Club hosted this initiative to promote basketball at school level. The tournament was divided into two categories, primary and secondary schools.

The secondary schools included Thuto Lore Secondary School, Mohloli Maths, Science & ITC School Of Specialisation, Lekoa Shandu, Jet Nteo, Mahareng, Suncrest, Vaalpark, Krugerlaan, and El Shaddai Secondary School.

The primary schools that participated in this year’s tournament were Emmanuel Primary School, Kgomocho Primary School, Tshepiso Primary School, Tshwaranang Primary School, Assumpta Primary School, Curro Primary School Dr Nhlapo Primary School, and Makapane Primary School.

Mohlo was crowned the champion in the secondary school category while Asssumpta Primary School was crowned the winner in the primary school. There were also rewards for exceptional individuals on the day. Thokozane Molefe from Jet Nteo Secondary School was named the Best Shooter U14, while Shapuwa Mendy from Thuto Lore Secondary School also walked away with the Best Shooter in the U16 category.

Reamohetswe  Lebewane from Suncrest Secondary School was named the Most Valuable Player in the U18 division.

“We want to thank all the schools who honoured our invitation to make this year’s tournament a great success. I was overwhelmed by the number of schools that showed interest. I have no doubt that next year we are going to see an even higher number of participants.”