Basketballers put a real bounce into sports league this winter

24 Mar 2009 - Sophie

Basketball is becoming the winter sport of choice for many Wakatipu residents this year with the highest number ever to register for the local league.

“Over the past few weeks we’ve been inundated with basketball registrations. We now have 10 teams registered which is a 25 percent increase from 2008,” said Lakes Leisure programmes coordinator Alana Talbot.

Ninety players from across Queenstown and Arrowtown are participating in the competition which started last Tuesday at the Queenstown Events Centre.

Organisers are delighted with the league’s increased popularity and believe it could be due to the success of a new ‘open night’ organised by basketball manager Evan McWhirter.

The aim was to encourage people who were interested in basketball to come along, get to know others and enrol in a team.

"It was great - nearly everyone who came found a team,” said Evan. “Anyone can play - all you need is a pair of shoes, ball and hoop. Lakes Leisure take care of the ball and hoop which makes it easy. Next year we hope to increase the competition to 12 registered teams.”

Games are played every Tuesday night for 15 weeks with semi finals and finals scheduled for Tuesday 16 June.

Teams entered in this year’s league are the Slumdog Millionaires, Triple Threat, The Long Shots, D’Fenders, Shenanigans, Conwag Cavaliers, 12 Bar, AJ Hackett and Sandy’s Team.

Supporters and locals keen on basketball are very welcome to come and watch the basketball league in action.