It’s been a stellar year for Rosmini College’s Premiere Basketball team, winning the 2018 Schick National Secondary School Championship for the second year running, and now being invited to play in the 25th Basketball World School Championship being held in Crete, Greece in April 2019.

Member countries of the International School Sport Federation (ISF) can enter their national championship winning team, and this is only the second time a New Zealand team has competed; Rangitoto College boys went to Croatia in 2017.

Coach Matt Lacey says it has been a busy year for this Rosmini team and getting over the line to qualify for this event has been well worth the effort. “It’s pretty much been two years of preparation”, Matt says, “as this event is held bi-annually. Our back to back national championship wins have helped develop a particularly strong and close team.”

Twelve boys will be heading to Greece, to compete against 23 other teams. Four of the Year 13s leaving school in 2018 will also be able to travel due to the northern hemisphere school year dates finishing mid-year. Five teachers will also make the trip along with several parents.

Getting to Crete is not cheap and the team is hoping to fundraise around $75,000 to get everyone there. Several planned fundraising events are already in place including a Basketball Bonanza coaching session for 7 – 16 year olds where kids can learn from Sky City Breakers General Manager and ex player Dillon Boucher, Rosmini Coach Matt Lacey and members of the Rosmini Premiere basketball team.

A disco for Year 7 and 8 students from both Rosmini and Carmel Colleges is also planned, a Givealittle page has been set up for donations, and a fun Greek Quiz Night will be held on Friday 15th February where there will be games, raffles and prizes, a bar, platters to purchase and of course, a Greek-style dress up theme.

A Facebook page has been set up to follow progress on the team’s journey to Crete and is where you’ll find information about their fundraising events:  Rosmini College Basketball – Road to World High School Championships.

For now, though, the team will be taking a well-earned break from school team practice until mid-January when they will return for some very focused pre-season training.

Tickets for the Greek Quiz Night on 15th February are $25 per person and tables of 10 can be booked by emailing rosminiquiznight@gmail.com