High school hoopsters compete in Belmopan
It’s going to be a major weekend for sports with the Regent’s Cup football championship on the line at the M.C.C. Grounds and a pair of high school basketball crowns up for grabs in Belmopan. News 5’s Patrick Jones caught up with Belize City’s hoop dreamers as they left for the nation’s capital.
Patrick Jones, Reporting
When they step off the bus in Belmopan on Friday evening, it will be the first time in nine years that Wesley College male and female basketball teams will appear in the national championships. Head coach for the female team, Ray Menzies, does not expect an easy battle.
Ray Menzies, Head Coach, Wesley College Female
“We don’t really know what to expect, but we expect very good and hard competition because we hear that especially the first team that we have to meet, Independence, is a very competitive team, they are very fit. And so we’re going in prepared to give them our all.”
And all their skills is what both teams will have to bring to the court if they are to proceed to the finals. Point Guard for the male team, Gareth Carter, says each player must come out at the top of his game.
Gareth Carter, Point Guard, Wesley Male
“Defence. That’s the number one key. Defence wins game. We always play every game as if it’s our most important game and we always hustle the hardest. Defence win games, that’s all.”
Tracy Garnett, Captain, Wesley College Female
“Well we haven’t worked out for a while, so I would assume that we will go out there and play our best and just play a running game, try to get our opponents tired or whatsoever. I hope we play very well.”
Garnet says her team has done no advance scouting, but with her eyes set on gold, the final year Wesley player says the team will settle for nothing less.
Tracy Garnet
“Well this is my fourth time, it’s very exciting. And I hope that I go out there and play to the best of my ability. I am looking forward for a good competition, and I hope I have lot of fun.”
And that’s what it is all about. While bringing home a double championship would be especially satisfying, sports coordinator Joel Wade says getting past the first hurdle, the opening games tonight, will be key.
Joel Wade, Sports Coordinator, Wesley College
“We’ll have to treat it as though we don’t know what we are going up against, and so we will have to come out with our all in the first game.”
“I would really like to win the nationals. I believe that if we are not able to win the national, then the championship for the central division will not have all that meaning to it, as if we are supposed to finish it all and just be the national undefeated champs.”
But to accomplish that goal, the male team will have to go through Corozal Community College and Delille Academy, while the Wesley women will battle Belmopan Comprehensive and Independence High.
Gareth Carter
“I expect tough competition because as I am hearing the out district teams are good teams and they are couple of them are undefeated and have a well-rounded team, so I expect some good and tough competition.”
Patrick Jones, for News 5.
The two final games will be played on Saturday afternoon at Belmopan Comprehensive.
