Melville Intermediate - NZAIMS Games Review

Melville Intermediate Schools Girls Basketball team returned from the NZAIMS Games in Tauranga on Friday afternoon.  The team competed with teams from throughout the country during the week.

The first up game against Aquinas College from Tauranga resulted in a narrow 27-28 loss for Melville.  Following this Melville were able to defeat Dio School from Auckland 40-10 and Kristen School from Auckland 35-28.   Day two saw three crucial games.  In the first Melville were able to come up with a win against St Cuthberts College 35-4.   

The secong game was against unbeaten and tournament hosts Tauranga Intermediate School.  Tauranga had been in dominating form, undefeated after four games, although Melville Intermediate had managed to defeat Tauranga at the quarter final stage in both 2011 and 2012.  This year it was not to be, an awesome defensive display from Tauranga combined with some decisive counter attacking saw them take a commanding 2-24 half time lead.  Althogh Melville Intermediate were able to peg Tauranga back in the second half the gap proved too much for Melville to bridge, Tauranga winning 38 to 19.

The final Tuesday game, Melvilles sixth in two days saw us take on Northcross Intermediate who had a single defeat.  Melville played their game of the tournament defeating Northcross 34-19.  That left a final pool game, against Kura o Te Koutu from Rotorua.  Melville came up against the eventual New Zealand and NZAIMS Champions who were in dominate form and who beat Melville 12-60.

This left Melville having a play off game in the tournament for 7th and 8th place against The Knox School from Melbourne.  Melville were hoping to finish with a win, however again it was not to be and in another very close game Melville were defeated 23-28, finishing 8th (out of 17 teams) for the 2013 nationals.

At the finals prizegiving Chilo Heurea from Melville Intermediate was named in the 2013 NZAIMS Tournament team in recognition of her outstanding play and leadership.  This meant she was recognised as one of the top twelve players in New Zealand for her age.

Our warmes congratulations to our friends at Koromatua School from Hamilton who were runners up oin the Boys and Girls Competition.   We would also like to acknowledge Kura O Te Koutu who were worthy champions, the first school to achieve this honour twice.