St Pat’s Capture Accolades
Tagged in: BBNZ News
Winning back-to-back national secondary schools championships has translated into regional awards for members of the St Patrick’s College basketball team.
After guiding St Pat’s to their third straight final and second title, coach Pete Ruscoe, in his final year on the sidelines, took home the male coach of the year at the College Sport Wellington awards last week, while two other awards came the team’s way.
Brook Ruscoe, MVP at the secondary schools nationals for the second straight year and leading scorer for the Junior Tall Blacks this year, claimed the boys basketballer of the year honour while the team, which defeated Hamilton’s Fraser High 94-92 in championship thriller, won boys team of the year.
Sacred Heart College’s Jasmine Davis, a member of the New Zealand under-18 and Emerging Junior Tall Ferns squads, was named girls basketballer of the year.
Ashburton College’s Hannah Mackay, who led Canterbury to the under-19 national title and represented New Zealand at under-18 and Junior Tall Ferns level this year, took away the female sportsperson of the year award at the Aoraki Secondary Schools Sports Awards.
Down South, New Zealand under-16 and Emerging Junior Tall Ferns rep Morgan Hunter (James Hargest College) claimed the junior girls overall award at the Southland Secondary Schools Sports Awards.
At the ASB College Sport Awards In Auckland, Junior Tall Blacks Rob Loe (Westlake Boys High) and Junior Tall Fern Jordan Hunter (St Kentigern College) took home basketballer of the year awards, while national under-16 rep Aleesha Coulter (Epsom Girls Grammar) and fellow basketballer Kayla Cullen (Auckland Girls Grammar) won all rounder awards.
Meanwhile, international referee Gavin Whiu was beaten out by softball umpire Wiremu Tamaki, who officiated in the women’s final at the Beijing Olympics, for sports umpire/referee of the year at the Tainui Waka Sports Awards on Friday night.
