This season has been just champion one for the Marshland High School Herons basketball team who are busy in training for their next big match.

Cambs Times:

Four teams entered the National Schools competition and they took part in the Norfolk qualifying rounds at KES Academy in King’s Lynn.

The under 14s team qualified for the regional rounds of the competition as Norfolk County Champions and face the Lincolnshire champions, Spalding Grammar School, and the Nottinghamshire champions, Arnold Hill Academy, on Tuesday (7).

The under 14s 2nd team, 15s and 16s also had many competitive fixtures in the competition, finishing third, third and fourth respectively.

The under 15s did particularly well as they played in the age group above them, beating King’s Lynn Academy and Marshland High School under 16s.

Cambs Times:

Dom Stannard, teacher in charge of basketball, said: “The major successes have, however, come in the district tournaments held at King’s Lynn Academy, with the under 13s, 14s and 15s all becoming district Champions.

“The under 15s won the competition for the fourth year in a row beating King’s Lynn Academy 18-11, Springwood 20-2 and KES 24-22 in a very close game.

Players of the tournament awards went to Lewis Theobald and Jack Lane. They are still to lose a game at this tournament in four years.

“The under 14s dominated the tournament again led by superstar Donatas Verikas and captain Marcus Holt. They won the tournament for the third year running and have won every game in that time.

“They won all six matches comfortably, with the best players only playing half the time. Players of the tournament awards went to Donatas Verikas and Jaden Carter.

“The under 13s after coming third last year, are determined to do well this year, they won all four games in the group stage, then beat a massive Springwood team 6-4 in the semi-final and dominated KES to win 14-4 in the final.

“Players of the tournament were to Kristers Skribans and Tyler Holt. We also entered a second team who got knocked out in the group stage.”

The under 12s also entered two teams into the tournament. Both teams came forth in their group, but Mr Stannard said they gained a lot of valuable experience from the event and improved as the night went on.

He added: “It has been an outstanding season with a massive level of success. The boys have really committed to basketball and have all improved so much, they really deserve their successes and I am so proud of every one of my players. I can’t wait to see our under 14s play in the next round of the National Schools.

“It will be interesting to see them compete at the next level. I would also like to thank King’s Lynn Fury Basketball Club and in particular their chairman and head coach, James Bamfield, for all the support they offer school basketball in West Norfolk. Without them we wouldn’t see so many youngsters playing the game.”