The St Stithians College U16 Basketball Tournament wrapped up today with a truly special result for the hosts.
Playing on their home courts, both the boys’ and girls’ teams gave their school plenty to cheer about by winning a memorable double victory.
The highlight of the day was the boys’ final.
Read more: St Stithians basketball reaches exciting final day
St Stithians found themselves up against the defending champions, St Benedict’s College, in a match that kept everyone on the edge of their seats. Both teams fought hard for every single point.
Lifted by the loud and proud cheering from their schoolmates in the stands, the Saints managed to keep their cool in the nervous final moments to secure a tight 31-28 win.
@caxtonjoburgnorth Watch: St Stithians make a basket to stretch their lead against St Dunstans in the St Stithians under-16 basketball tournament. Video: Nkazimulo Ncube #Caxtonschools #Randburg #basketballhighlights ♬ original sound – Caxton Joburg North
The incredible energy from the home crowd really helped them pull through when things got tough.
Earlier in the day, the Saints girls’ team put on a wonderful display against St Dunstan’s College. They took charge of the game right from the start and cruised to a comfortable 43- 21 victory to finish off a brilliant tournament.
However, achieving that perfect ending required genuine teamwork and honest conversations.
St Stithians and St Dunstans clash in the finals of the St Stithians under-16 basketball tournament. Photo: Nkazimulo Ncube
Just a day earlier, after their last pool match on Saturday, Saints girls’ player Zuri Jimerson spoke very openly about how the team was doing. She admitted that they were not playing at their best, sharing that both their defence and their attack needed work. Zuri felt that a drop in energy and a lack of confidence were holding the girls back.
Also read: St Stithians basketball matches move back home
She kindly pointed out that some of her teammates were feeling too nervous to take their shots, missing out on chances to score because they were afraid of getting it wrong.
For Zuri, the answer was simple but powerful. She reminded her teammates that they needed to support one another better, reminding each other that it is perfectly okay to make mistakes and mess up, as long as they get back up and try again next time.
Her encouraging words clearly worked wonders. The girls put those early doubts behind them, showing fantastic growth and calm heads to finish the tournament as champions.
Looking back at the 2026 event, St Stithians will surely remember it as a weekend filled with brave comebacks, great friendship, and the magic of having your school cheering you on.
Don’t miss Caxton Schools II, focused on local basketball and waterpolo festivals: Joburg giants set for thrilling 2026 water polo and basketball season. Catch all the action by following the hashtag #CaxtonSchools for the highlights on the upcoming sports-filled festivals.
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