National Primary School Basketball Champs

The annual National Primary Schools Basketball Championship was held today in Belize City. After several months of elimination games in the various districts, six primary school male and female teams, each representing the best in the sport at an elementary level, converged at the Roger’s Stadium and the YWCA basketball courts. But their skills weren’t elementary; as their goal was to be dubbed elites in their own sporting class and to take home the medals and trophies. It is the culmination of events that have determined who represents the country in regional and international tournaments says National Sports Council Director, Patrick Henry.

Patrick Henry, Director, National Sports Council

“The competition started back in January thereabout with the respect town/City competition then on to the rural then the district finals and now the national championship. The national primary school sports program is played both in male and female categories, five major disciplines: softball, football, volleyball, basketball and athletics. This program started back in 1993 with softball and football as the first two disciplines and then in 1995, all five disciplines were introduced into the program at both male and female program.”

Duane Moody

Patrick Henry

“What do they win at the end of this competition?”

Patrick Henry

“At the end of the competition—keeping in practice with the IOC sanctioned tournaments whether it is the Olympics or the regional games—the first place champion will walk away with the goal medal, the second place will be the silver medal and the third place the bronze medal. The MVP is given to the most outstanding student athlete at the end of the day, as well as, the first three schools in the competition receives a school trophy for keepsake. Our children are exposed at an early age and from there we hope that it will continue into the amateur program where within a couple years, they are our future Olympians.”

In the male category: Wesley Upper School from Belize District placed first, while Holy Family Primary School from  Hopkins Village in Stann Creek took second. Louisiana Government School from Orange Walk rounded out the top three in that category. Meanwhile for the females; it was Belize Rural Primary from Double Head Cabbage taking the top spot with Holy Family again coming in second and Cayo’s Faith Nazarene Primary School placing third.