Pretoria High School league low down

By Neo Mothiba-St Mary’s DSG sports co-ordinator

The Pretoria School’sleague started with a lot of enthusiasm. There was new leadership and new vision.

General

The new committee started off with changes in the league format. The format which the league had been using for the past 10 years was put aside and the new format put in place. The main issue was that the Centralised venues denied other schools the opportunity to host league matches as all matches were hosted by PBHS, PHSG and St Mary’s DSG. The main reason for this centralized venues was that, the schools were central and were previously the only schools who could host a great number of matches in a single weekend.

The new format has brought a few challenges. With the central venues the league committee could control the games better than when they are hosted all over the place. The question of money that has to be paid by the schools to take all teams around Pretoria.

The League

This year we have a huge increase in the number of teams per age group. That was emphasized the previous year by the committee that each school needs to atleast enter a team in all age groups. The numbers grew from 71 to 88 teams. The emphasis being oon the U14 and U15 age groups.

The league finaly got on the way and the speculation surrounding dominance that PBHS and St Albans used have on the league was faiding away, with schools like Willowridge and Rosina gunning for the most prestigious prize in Pretoria school’s basketball. The ladies section is a tough one to call in all age groups from U14 till Open. St Mary’s DSG seem to have regrouped and gone back to the drawing with Acquisition of new coaches like Welcome Mokoena and Bulelwa Zondi of TUKS under the leadership of Neo Mothiba. PHSG have been hard at trying to bring their old girls to come and help out with the coaches while The Glen High School is relying on the tried and tested coaches.

Most of the teams are iun their few last matches and all are anxious to see who they are pitted against in the Semi Finals which will held on the 6^th of June and the Finals on the 7^th of June. Will the finals follow the same patern as last year or will the new school take over and lay their claim.School’s basketball always brings suprises.

SEMI FINALS @St Mary’s DSG and PBHS on Friday 6 June 2008

FINALS @ St Mary’s DSG INDOOR on Saturday 7 June 2008

Last years Standings

Boys Open

1^st BEES BC

2^nd St ALBANS COLLEGE

3^rdPBHS A

Girls Open

1^st The GLEN HS

2^nd JAFTA MAHLANGU

3^rd PHSG A

Boys U16

1^st PBHS A

2^ndBEES BC

3^rdPBHS B

Girls U16

1^st PHSG A

2^nd St MARY’S DSG

3^rd WILLOWRIDGE HS

Boys U14

1^st WILLOWRIDGE HS

2^nd PBHS A

3^rdPBHS B

Girls U14

1^st The Glen HS

2^ndSt Mary’s DSG

3^rdPHSG A

Tags: Basketball, Jafta Mahlangu, PBHS, PHSG, Pretoria High School League, St Albans College, St Mary's DSG, The Glen High School, Willowridge