Pupils Hoop it up at Primary Basketball Festival

Jun 12 2012 by Paul Behan, Paisley Daily Express

MORE than 150 schoolkids from across Renfrewshire slam-dunked their way through a basketball bonanza at the Lagoon Sports Centre.

The event was organised by basketballpaisley, in conjunction with the People’s Postcode Lottery, Renfrewshire Council and basketballscotland.

And, with excellent support from Renfrewshire Active Schools co-ordinators and the Lagoon staff, it was a day to remember as the primary pupils battled it out to be kings and queens of the court.

A total of 36 competitive matches, involving pupils from primary four and five classes, were played as part of a pilot scheme being delivered by sportscotland.

And basketballpaisley chief executive Lindsay Lang was thrilled to see so many youngsters enjoying the sport at the Lagoon. He told Express Sports: “This was our third Primary Schools Basketball Festival this session and it was another fantastic event.

“The standard of individual and team play was extremely high and it is hoped that many girls and boys will continue to play the game and join one of our four community clubs in the coming months.

“We are indebted to our key sponsors, The People’s Postcode Lottery, as well as Renfrewshire Council, who supported the programme by funding the coaching of more than 700 pupils and assisting with transport to the festival.”

The teams from Glencoats Primary, in Paisley, and St David’s Primary, in Johnstone, were declared joint champions at the end of the festival, with a team from Todholm Primary, in Paisley, finishing in third place.

The next three places were also filled by Paisley schools, with St Charles’ Primary finishing fourth, St Fergus Primary in fifth and West Primary claiming sixth spot.

Two teams from Auchenlodment Primary, in Johnstone, shared seventh spot, with another team from Todholm Primary finishing in ninth and the top 10 being completed by Wallace Primary, in Elderslie.

Adam Gray, of Glencoats Primary, was named Most Valuable Boy Player, with Megan Gethin, of St David’s Primary, crowned Most Valuable Girl Player.