The RGK Wheelchair Basketball Junior Festival occurred this past Saturday and was a great day packed with fantastic wheelchair basketball action.
Tayside & Fife won the U18s tournament for the first time ever as they secured a win over defending champions West 32-17. In the third placed playoff, Grampian and East picked up a bronze medal with a 22-10 victory over Central.
basketballscotland’s Disability and Talent Pathways Manager, Tina Gordon, spoke about the success of the event:
“The Regional Festival is in its 4th year now, and each year the players go from strength to strength. With the support of RGK Wheelchairs we’ve been able to grow the competition, enabling more young players to experience wheelchair basketball. It’s great seeing so many players developing their confidence and having fun throughout the day. We’re really excited to continue the partnership with RGK and grow the game even more throughout Scotland.”
Tayside & Fife’s player/coach Ben Leitch, who looks to be a leading force in the Scotland U18s squad, discussed his team’s performance as well as what it was like to take on the player/coach role:
“I thought that the team did a great job working together and working for each other. We played team basketball and that’s what won us our games. As far as taking on the responsibility of a player/coach, it’s not the easiest job as you have to make sure that you keep everyone in the game mindset, run subs where needed, change tactics as well as having to go out and perform yourself.”
The afternoon also saw a range of games played among U13 teams, with West, Grampian & East, Central and Tayside & Fife all competing throughout the day.
For more information on how you can get involved with wheelchair basketball please email Tina Gordon at tina.gordon@basketball-scotland.com
