The recent Basketball New Zealand Foot Locker U18 Nationals showcased remarkable talent and dedication from participants across the country, and Pioneer Basketball Club was proudly represented by a group of outstanding players and referees.

Player Performances

Pioneer Basketball Club’s players delivered impressive performances. Representing Canterbury, Cooper Reddecliffe was part of the Canterbury A Boys team, while Josh Breitmeyer, Ethan Weston, Jack Watson, and Calix Evsen Casiao played for the Canterbury B Boys team.

Canterbury A Boys Team: Cooper Reddecliffe and the Canterbury A Boys team achieved a commendable third-place finish, triumphing over Waitakare West A with a final score of 108-76 in the 3rd/4th playoff.

Canterbury A Boys’ Tournament Journey:

• Canterbury A (126) vs. Canterbury B (70)
• Canterbury A (102) vs. Rotorua (89)
• Canterbury A (79) vs. Harbour (74)
• Canterbury A (111) vs. Waikato (75)
• Quarter-Final: Canterbury A (101) vs. Hawkes Bay (99)
• Semi-Final: Canterbury A (94) vs. Manawatu (105)
• 3rd/4th Playoff: Canterbury A (108) vs. Waitakare West A (76)

Matt Riches, Senior Club Development Officer at Pioneer Basketball Club, remarked, “The determination and skill exhibited by our players are truly inspiring. Their performance at the nationals highlights the strength of our training programs and the hard work these athletes put in daily. We are incredibly proud of their achievements.”

Canterbury B Boys Team: Josh Breitmeyer, Ethan Weston, Jack Watson, and Calix Evsen Casiao showed resilience and determination throughout the tournament.

Canterbury B Boys’ Tournament Journey:

• Canterbury B (70) vs. Canterbury A (126)
• Canterbury B (70) vs. Harbour (104)
• Canterbury B (82) vs. Rotorua (120)
• Canterbury B (81) vs. Waikato (102)
• Canterbury B (117) vs. Hibiscus Coast (59)
• Canterbury B (112) vs. Wellington (96)
• Canterbury B (84) vs. Taranaki (90)

Individual Player Averages:

• Cooper Reddecliffe: 4.71 points per game
• Josh Breitmeyer: 14 points per game
• Ethan Weston: [average not specified]
• Jack Watson: 7.57 points per game
• Calix Evsen Casiao: 11 points per game

Girls’ Team Success

On the girls’ side, Fenella Chittock represented Canterbury and played a crucial role in their third-place finish, defeating Wellington 87-56 in the 3rd/4th playoff.

Canterbury Girls’ Tournament Journey:

• Canterbury (81) vs. Rotorua (71)
• Canterbury (90) vs. Harbour A (81)
• Quarter-Final: Canterbury (94) vs. Harbour B (56)
• Semi-Final: Canterbury (72) vs. Waikato (97)
• 3rd/4th Playoff: Canterbury (87) vs. Wellington (56)

Fenella Chittock’s Performance:

• Average: 2.4 points per game

Referees’ Excellence

Pioneer referees Jack Studholme and Tyler Radbourne were selected to officiate at the tournament, Jayden Rosanowski, Pioneer Basketball Club’s Officials Coordinator, expressed his pride, stating, “The selection of our referees for national tournaments is a testament to their dedication and the excellent training programs at both grassroots and regional levels. We are immensely proud of Jack and Tyler for their outstanding contributions to basketball.”

The collective efforts of Pioneer Basketball Club’s players and referees at the U18 Nationals underscore the club’s commitment to excellence and development. Their achievements reflect the strength of the club’s programs and the bright future of basketball talent at Pioneer.