Brighton Reserve, Waihī Beach was abuzz with basketball fans of all ages on April 12 for the second annual Parafed Bay of Plenty (BOP) basketball and Sport whānau fun day.
Organised by Parafed BOP, the event aimed to encourage kids and teenagers of all abilities to give basketball a go, and improve their skills through playing games and joining group drills.
Tauranga City Basketball Association Senior development officer Chelseah Savage attended and teamed up with former Tall Black Byron Vaetoe from Basketball NZ and Wayne Chase from the NZ Rollers Blacks basketball team to run drills and play in some scrimages with the attendees.
Representatives and players from Special Olympics Tauranga and the NZ Men’s Whaikaha team, including ex-Waihī College student Todd Maitland and his mum Tina, who is also Whaikaha assistant coach, made a special trip out to be part of the event. Northern Districts Cricket association coaches also hosted games of cricket on the reserve, in between basketball games.
Suzanne Morrison, of Parafed BOP, said the day was incredible.
“We had all these talented sports people of all abilities, playing together and teaching the tamariki tips and tricks on the court,” she said.
The Parafed BOP event was supported by Tauranga City Basketball Association, Basketball NZ and NZ Whaikaha, Tauranga Special Olympics team, Northern District Cricket Association, Live Well Waihī Beach and Western Bay of Plenty District Council.
DETAILS: To try Wheelchair Basketball can head to the Festival of Disability Sport at Mercury BayPark Arena, Tauranga, on May 10 at midday for a community game.
