Earlier this year Basketball Ireland selected thirteen clubs to take part in the inaugural Jr. NBA programme (sponsored by DeCare Dental) with Tralee Imperials BC the only Kerry side chosen.
The primary goal of the Jr. NBA is to provide a FUN opportunity for children to play basketball. Tralee Imperials BC chose two local schools to work with as part of the programme – Scoil Eoin, Balloonagh and St. Brendan’s N.S., Blennerville.
Coaches from the club and transition year students from Mercy Secondary School, Mounthawk attend the schools on a weekly basis coaching 5th and 6th class children.
Following the Jr. NBA Draft in October, each school involved was selected to represent an NBA team. On 10th November the Scoil Eoin Lakers (LA Lakers) will take on the Blennerville Grizzlies (Memphis Grizzlies) at halftime of the Superleague Garvey’s Tralee Warriors vs Belfast Star game in the Tralee Sports Complex.
As well as this exhibition game, Tralee Imperials BC run cluster events whereby both Jr. NBA teams come together for a training session and play games with and against each other.
The Jr. NBA will culminate in the Festival of Basketball being held in the National Basketball Arena, Tallaght in December.
Every school involved will have a team representing them at the Festival. An NBA ambassador will be there on the day to do a clinic and the children will engage with some skills and drills as well as playing games.
Thank you to Garvey’s Tralee Warriors for hosting the Jr. NBA game at halftime, a very memorable opportunity for all the children involved and perhaps inspire them to become future Warriors.
Training Continues at Usual Times
Upcoming Fixtures
8/11 U14 Div1 Boys Imperials v St.Josephs Mounthawk 20-00
Academy Div1 Girls Imperials Diamonds v St.Pauls White Mounthawk 18-00
9/11 U14 Div2 Girls Pool 2 Imperials v St.Marys Mounthawk 18-00
U16 Div1 Girls Imperials v St.Marys Presentation 19-15
10/11 U16Div1 Boys St.Marys v Imperials Castleisland 11-00
11/11 U14 Div2 Girls Pool2 Ballybunion v Imperials Ballybunion 14-30
Womens Crossover Div1+Div2 St.Marys v Imperials Castleisland 18-15
Senior Women Div3 St.Annes v Imperials Farranfore 12-00
U18 Div1 Boys Gneeveguilla v Imperials Rathmore 19-00
U17 Div1 Girls St.Annes v Imperials Farranfore 16-15
12/11 U12 Div3 Girls Pool 2 Imperials v Ballybunion Presentation 18-15
Results
U18 Boys National Cup Qualifying Tournament
Our U18 Boys travelled to Cork last weekend and played four games over the weekend. First up on Saturday they played Limerick Lions and won 89-63. They then played Kestrels and won 51-38. On Sunday they played Ballincollig and won 69-62 and their final group game against Dublin Lions they lost 74-47. They qualified for the quarter finals by finishing second in the group. Well done lads.
