St David’s Marist Inanda confident ahead of Inanda Hoops Challenge
The annual St David’s Marist Inanda Hoops Classic Challenge tips off on Thursday, with the action running through to Sunday.
It’s the seventh edition of the tournament and it features 40 teams across various age groups going head-to-head for the titles.
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The hosts, St. David’s Marist Inanda, are confident of a good performance and of bettering the fourth-place finish they achieved in the u18 competition in 2023.
They’re grouped in Pool B with Grey High, Parktown Boys’ High, and St John’s College. They face a tough challenge, but St David’s captain Oliver Maskell said his team is eager to take it on.
“The team is really motivated for this weekend,” Maskell said. “We’ve had our fair share of ups and downs so far this season, but we’ve prepared [well] and we’re excited to put on a show for Inanda to see.”
The defending champions, St. Benedict’s College, faced the St John’s Basketball Tournament runners-up, King Edward VII (KES), Saheti, and St Andrew’s College in Pool A.
Pool C should produce tight games, but St Stithians, who finished third in the 2023 edition of the Inanda Hoops Challenge, will fancy their chances against Jeppe, Redhill, and Hilton College.
Perhaps the most interesting group in this year’s edition is Pool D. While some may deem it the least anticipated because it includes Sacred Heart, 11th in 2023, and St Peter’s College, 15th last year, those two teams have good strategies to offer.
However, Pretoria Boys High will bear watching. They’ll be confident after winning the Westville Stayers Basketball Tournament in September, where Nehemiah Nii-Aryee and Thomas Fagas were included in the All-Star team at the event’s conclusion. Kings Linbro Park completes the group and will feel one of the top two positions in the pool is within their reach.