The High School Basketball tournament hosted by the Samoa National Basketball Association ended last weekend.

The tournament attracted four High Schools competing for the top place at Apia Park Gymnasium; Leifiifi College, Robert Louis Stevenson School (RLSS) Anoamaía College and Vaimauga College.

 According to President of the Secondary School Basketball Association, John Ryan, the competition was to identify and promote good sportsmanship amongst the youths of Samoa. 

ìThe main initiative of this tournament is to encourage good sportsmanship mentality to the local youths, as well as preparing them for upcoming regionals tournament that these young athletes will be exposed to,î he said.

The tournament has been successful over the years with more and more schools participating. Another positive outcome during the tournament was the support from these four schools; from their principals and teachers.

Ryan said the Basketball Association is trying to run the High School Basketball Competition like how the Rugby competitions have proceeded over the years.

He noticed how different this yearís tournament was compared to previous tournaments. 

ìThis yearís tournament saw skill level of the students increase from what Iíve seen in the previous years,î he said.

In the end Anoamaía College topped the girls division while Leifiifi College topped the boys. Sports woman of the tournament went to Fuifui Suía of Vaimauga College, while Joseph Vaetoe of Leififi College took the menís player of the tournament.

Ryan said the support from Basketball Samoa officials and tournament director Linda Kelsall was the key to the tournamentís success.

PLACING

GIRLS

1: Anoamaa College

2: Vaimauga College

3: Leififi College

BOYS

1: Leififi College

2: RLSS College

3: Vaimauga College

4: Anoamaa College.