Wits run riot en route to huge Basketball League honours
- Tshepiso Mametela
There seems to be no letting up on one success after another for the Wits Basketball Club (WBC), 2019 Guateng University Basketball League Champions
The latest among these comes in the form of impressive showings by the SpaceBox Wits Horny Bucks, who captured 1st place in the men's first division of the league. Courtesy of this display, the SpaceBox Wits Lady Bucks came nail-bitingly close to replicating the same. In division one of the women’s league, the ladies were gutsy and a determined force, going on to earn 2nd place for their efforts.
The apple did not fall too far from the tree, hereafter, as the SpaceBox Wits Young Bucks took a page from their more illustrious seniors to triumph in the men’s second division. Their reward was a brilliant 1st place, which again, their compatriots in that division, came close to duplicating. The SpaceBox Wits Buck Ladies ultimately secured 2nd place in the women's second division after some sensational showings.
“This is great for the institution; it brings in a lot of pride as we love winning these types of tournaments. It further gives us a great morale boost,” said point guard for the SpaceBox Wits Horny Bucks, Angelo Quinn, speaking on what the achievement means for the University.
“With Varsity Basketball coming up, we've put in great preparations. So, hopefully, we'll bring it all home in the next two weeks,” added Quinn. Outgoing chairperson of WBC and a power forward in the SpaceBox Wits lady Bucks team, Rudo Kaseke, said her team’s success is attributed to the work ethic that the girls have displayed.
“How we managed to come together as a team and click this year, has been a huge factor, especially since we have a wide range of characters and ages in the team. I feel that my contribution, in the form of putting in the hours on and off the court went a long way towards our success,” said Kaseke.
“It's been humbling, to say the least. Especially because we've had so many victories as a club in the past month – with the GUBL tournament gold medal, the Wits Sport Club of the Year honours, and several individuals receiving recognition for the work they have put in. This also means that we're headed in the right direction, with all four Wits teams having come out with a prize.”
Wits Horny Bucks head coach, Tshiamo Ngakane, justifiably sang the praises of his 1st team men’s side: “We started the season off pretty well, focused on qualifying for USSA of course. We carried those performances forward after USSA, with the guys going undefeated in the second half of the season, before going on to win the league comfortably in the end and are quite happy with this.”
Ngakane’s team next line-up against the University of the Western Cape Basketball, in a fifth-round 2019 Varsity Basketball encounter, at the Wits Multi-Purpose Hall on October 10. Wits currently lie fifth on the Varsity Basketball log on four points, after winning two and losing two from the four games played, so far.