Sam Dempster is used to taking a small and fast team to the national secondary school basketball championships.
“We would just try and outrun other sides,” says the Nelson College basketball coach.
But that is set to change this week in Palmerston North.
“This is the biggest, as in tallest, schoolboy team I have ever coached, even though we only have three Year 13’s,” declares Sam.
You can’t miss New Zealand age grade centre Zach Rampton on court.
“I was measured recently and I am over seven foot (2.13m) and still growing,” says the Year 12 student, who is off to nationals for the first time after returning from China where his parents are based.
His father Tony was a former Tall Black and Nelson Giant while his mother Nicki was also a leading basketballer.
“Zach is pretty versatile and it is amazing how he moves for someone so big. And we have other 'bigs' as well,” enthuses Sam.
The pair agree that you can’t coach height.
“I realise there will be attention on me, but my focus is the team and team success,” insists Zach, who got brief court time with the Giants during the latter part of the NBL season.
Also new to the NC ranks this season is Freddy Evans, who won national age grade selection as well while at Nayland College.
“It was mainly my decision to come over to Nelson, and I am hoping the team can make the top five again or higher,” says the point guard.
Back from last year is another Year 13 player, Ashton Walker, who reckons losing two games at the South Island winter tournament in Christchurch removed any risk of cockiness ahead of Palmerston North.
“We never take winning for granted, but we can beat anyone. We just have to work to be better,” maintains the power forward, who top scored for NC with 24 points as it beat last year’s national champion Shirley Boys’ High School to finish third in Christchurch earlier this month.
Despite losing six players from last year, Sam is pleased with the squad’s depth.
But going down to Hillmorton High School in the semi-finals was a wake-up call ahead of the nationals.
He’s upped the workload and held a training camp at the weekend before the direct flight to the tournament.
“There will be some really talented sides there, and all six from the South Island are really good. So, the first goal is making the top eight,” concludes a cautious Sam.
