By Isle of Wight Observer
The Isle of Wight Festival of Basketball delivered a packed day of games, energy and Island pride to The Bay School, Sandown, earlier this month.
Hosted by IOW Basketball Club, the July 5 event featured competitive fixtures at U-16 and U-18 levels against Whiteley Warriors, as well as a senior All-Stars match between the club and the IOW Filipino All Stars. There was also a wheelchair basketball taster-session and shooting contests for all ages.
In the U-16 match, the IOW team were 46–35 winners with a confident performance built on tight defence and quick ball movement. Ethan Soar led all scorers with 16 points, supported by Caulie Evans with 11.
The U-18s match was a tightly-fought encounter, with IOW overturning a half-time deficit to take a 64–56 win. Raymond Groves and David Magura both impressed in the final quarter, while strong team spirit from the bench helped turn the tide.
In the senior showcase, the IOWBC Allstars edged out the IOW Filipino All Stars 76–67 in a fast-paced contest. Cameron Johnson dominated on both ends of the court with 26 points, while Konrad Kantorski added 16. Dan Uy and Vincent Morada led the scoring for the Filipino side.
Wheelchair basketball coaches, Ryan Cameron and Gary Butler, were also on hand to offer demos and encouragement.
For more information, visit iowbasketball.club or email committee@iowbasketball.club.