Author: sipongco

The annual Jenny Orchard Invitational Basketball Tournament, hosted by Maritzburg College, kicked off on Thursday in Pietermaritzburg. The action continues through to Sunday, when a champion will be crowned.

Catch the LIVE Action on SuperSport Schools 

Division A

On the opening day, the defending champions, Westville Boys’ High, narrowly defeated Soweto Basketball Academy by three points, staging a strong fightback to come from behind and claim a tight 53-50 win.

Despite that defeat, the Soweto Basketball Academy did enough to suggest they could be in with a shout at the title on Sunday. Meanwhile, Pinelands High, led by the talented Aidan Erasmus and Shafiek Allie, also showed their teeth, romping to a 90-54 victory over their fellow Cape Town school, Rondebosch Boys’ High.

Pinelands won the Wynberg Boys’ High Basketball Tournament in October last year and are eager to make an impact in Pietermaritzburg. They face a stiff challenge

The competition at the Jenny Orchard Invitational Basketball Tournament is undoubtedly tough, and one of the title contenders is ESCA. In 2025, they won two titles within a span of 30 days, lifting the Westville Boys’ High Invitational Schools Stayers’ Basketball Tournament (ISSBT) trophy before winning The King’s School Linbro Park Basketball Tournament.

ESCA lived up to expectations on Thursday, overrunning Wynberg Boys’ High 93-43, to make it clear that they are the team to beat in Pool C.

St John’s College (Harare) made their tournament bow, but it was a rude introduction as they ran into a high-flying Maritzburg College, who powered to a 75-26 victory.

College and Pinelands have put their hands up as the frontrunners in Pool B, while St John’s and Rondebosch Boys’ High look likely to duke it out for third place in the group.

In Pool A, Westerford High ran out comfortable winners in their opener, doubling up Northwood B 88-44.

The Northwood 1st team is in Johannesburg, where they are chasing a third successive St John’s College Basketball Tournament title.

Earlier this month, Durban High School (DHS) became the first team to defeat Kent VanderYacht’s Northwood at home since 2020. They started their challenge in imperious style, cruising to a 90-39 win over Clifton College.

They’ll battle ESCA for first place in Pool C, which also includes Clifton and Wynberg Boys’ High.

In Group D, Kearsney College, led by Pabatso Sithole, a consistent source of points, is a dark horse unit that could make waves.

They opened their account with a 64-43 win over Glenwood High, while South Africa College High School (SACS) secured a 66-48 victory against St Nicholas Diocesan School A.

Division B

Division B also delivered some exciting action.

In Pool A, Michaelhouse B defeated Alexandra High School 62-29, while Meridian Karino School defeated Enjabulweni Independent School 64-56.

In Pool B, St Nicholas Diocesan School B and Etham College went back and forth in a competitive match, which St Nicholas won 86-60. Marist Brothers’ Linmeyer held on for a 47-41 win over Riverwood College.

In Pool C, Kingswood College was pushed hard by Maritzburg College B, but they won by 10, 57-47. Bishops Diocesan College got by Treverton College 46-40.

In the tightest clash of the day, in Pool D,  Maritzburg Cubs edged out Thomas More College 48-47.

In the last fixture of the day, an all Eastern Cape affair, Queen’s College took on St Andrew’s College B, with Queen’s scoring a 48-31 victory.

RESULTS

Thursday, 19 February

Pool A

Westville Boys’ High 53-50 Soweto Basketball Academy
Westerford High 88-44 Northwood B

Pool B

Maritzburg College 75-26 St John’s College (Harare)
Pinelands High 90-54 Rondebosch Boys’ High

Pool C

DHS 90-39 Clifton College
ESCA 93-43 Wynberg Boys’ High

Pool D

Kearnsey College 64-43 Glenwood
SACS 66-48 St Nicholas Diocesan B

Division B

Pool A

Michaelhouse B 62-39 Alexandra High School
Meridian Karino School 64-56 Enjabbulweni Independent School

Pool B

St Nicholas Diocesan School 86-60 Etham College
Marist Brothers Linmeyer 47-41 Riverwood College

Pool C

Kingswood College 57-47 Maritzburg College B
Bishops Diocesan College 46-40 Treverton College

Pool D

Maritzburg Cubs 48-47 Thomas More College
Queen’s College 48-31 St Andrew’s College B

For the last three years, the champions of the annual St John’s College Basketball Tournament have hailed from KwaZulu-Natal, with St Charles College claiming victory in 2023, while Northwood secured the prestigious title in both 2024 and 2025.

Catch the LIVE Action on SuperSport Schools

Each year, the tournament, regarded as the country’s leading event, draws many of South Africa’s finest basketball-playing schools, along with some international participants. This year, they include Zimbabwe’s Falcon College and St George’s College in the u19 A Section. The tournament has previously also featured teams from Botswana.

Northwood, from KwaZulu-Natal, has dominated the competition in the past two years. In 2025, they beat the host team, St John’s College, in the final. In 2024, the Knights overran King Edward VII in the final in a massively impressive show of power to lift the title for the first time.

As the tournament approaches, Northwood has again established itself as one of South Africa’s leading teams. However, a recent loss to Durban High School (DHS) – their first on their home court in six years -has shown that the Knights are not invincible.

The Knights are in Group A of the u19 Category A tournament, where they will face Falcon College, The King’s School Linbro Park, St Stithians College, and Curro Helderwyk. On paper, Kent VanderYacht‘s squad, featuring experienced and dominant players such as Siya Shabalala, a member of the South African junior national team, Simamukele Vacu, and Awande Chiliza, appears well-equipped to top the group.

Group B presents a challenging scenario, but St Benedict’s College appears likely to emerge as the dominant team. They’ll be up against Makhand’s St Andrew’s College, Michael Mount Waldorf, Jeppe High School for Boys, and Hilton College.

Bennies will lean on their captain, Bahlekonke Mazibuko. He’s a composed, lead-by-example tone-setter from whom his teammates draw inspiration. Hilton College, though, could be a dark horse, while Michael Mount produces tenacious teams year in and year out. Any Jeppe team in any sport is always up for a good scrap, while St Andrew’s has a bit of the unknown on their side.

Group C is certainly one to watch, with most teams in high spirits and excellent form in recent weeks. King Edward VII School (KES) has been almost unstoppable since winning the Inanda Hoops Tournament at St David’s Marist Inanda in October 2025.

They also excelled in the Pretoria Boys High Pre-Season Basketball Festival, losing only one game, by a single point, to high-flying ESCA. KES will, no doubt, have ambitions of going all the way to gold at St John’s.

Their group opponents include Pretoria Boys High, Michaelhouse, St David’s Marist Inanda, and Crawford Sandton College. In KZN, Michaelhouse has been in good form and recently edged out a strong Kearsney team by a single point, playing away at the Skweyiya SportZone. St David’s, too, has been racking up victories.

The hosts, and last year’s runner-up, St John’s College, is in Group D. They’ll tackle St Alban’s College, as well as the 2023 champions, St Charles College, Harare’s St George’s College, and Parktown Boys’ High.

It’s a wide-open group, tough to call, and there will likely be little to separate the sides.

The addition of a u19B category, along with the u15 and u13 age groups, has expanded the tournament, which was already the largest basketball event in Southern Africa, to 67 teams and 760 players from the Eastern Cape, Free State, Gauteng, KZN, Mauritius, and Zimbabwe.

Over 170 games will be played over the four days from 19 to 22 February. If you can’t make it courtside, catch the action LIVE on SuperSport Schools.

GROUPS

u19 Category A

Group A
Northwood, Falcon College, King’s Linbro, St Stithians College, Curro Helderwyk

Group B
St Andrew’s College A, Michael Mount Waldorf A, Jeppe High School for Boys A, Hilton College A, St Benedict’s College A

Group C
Pretoria Boys High A, King Edward VII School A, Michaelhouse A, St David’s Marist Inanda A, Crawford Sandton College A

Group D
St Alban’s College A, St Charles College A, St George’s College A, Parktown Boys’ High A, St John’s College A

u19 Category B

Group A
Sacred Heart College A, Saheti A, Maritzburg College B, Redhill School A, YUT Basketball Academy A

Group B
St Peter’s College, St John’s College B, Alma Mater I.S A, Lamagundi Col A, Crawford Lonehill A

After another successful weekend of basketball, some of South Africa’s top teams are primed for the St John’s College Basketball Tournament and the Jenny Orchard Invitational Basketball Tournament, at Maritzburg College, which await this coming weekend.

Northwood, Michaelhouse, and Grey High all celebrated hard-fought victories.

In KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), Michaelhouse continues its successful streak. Following a win over St Charles College last weekend, they were met by a lively and enthusiastic crowd at the Skewiya SportZone on Saturday, where they took on Kearsney College.

In a highly competitive match, which went to overtime, ‘House snatched a 66-65 victory.

The visitors established early dominance, putting Kearsney under pressure with robust defence and effective ball movement, which left the home side struggling to find its rhythm.

Michaelhouse forced six turnovers in the opening stanza and opened up a seven-point lead by the end of the quarter, leading 12-5 as Kearsney shot only 20 percent.

Momentum shifted in the second quarter as Kearsney responded with determination and vigour. They upped their shooting percentage to 62.5, and that showed on the score sheet, with the home team outpacing Michaelhouse 25-14 in the quarter. At halftime, Kearsney led 30-26.

Michaelhouse took charge once more in the third quarter, outscoring Kearsney 23-15, which left them with a 49-45 lead and one quarter to play.

It was intense and played at a high intensity, with Kearsney fighting back to win it 18-14, which sent the contest to overtime.

Much like they had started the game, though, Kearsney finished it with their shooting going cold, and Michaelhouse did just enough to eke out a one-point victory.

Northwood, who suffered a shock defeat at home against Durban High School (DHS) last week – their first on their own court in six years – bounced back with a home victory, holding off a determined Westville Boys’ High to win 59-53.

Westville provided stiff opposition, so a win over a good team was a welcome morale boost for the Knights before they head off to Johannesburg to defend the St John’s College Basketball Tournament, which they have won for the past two years.

Maritzburg College, which hosts the annual Jenny Orchard Invitational Basketball Tournament this coming weekend, scored an important 81-70 victory over an impressive DHS team, fresh off a big win at Northwood.

Empangeni High School was also back on the court and held on for a narrow 37-35 victory over Richards Bay Christian School.

In Gauteng, rainfall in the late afternoon impacted most fixtures. However, there was still some action, including King Edward VII (KES) defeating St Benedict’s College 48-38.

St John’s College warmed up for their home tournament with a tight 41-36 win over Parktown Boys’ High. 

St David’s Marist Inanda continued their winning streak after defeating Bennies last weekend, scoring a comfortable 55-40 win over St Alban’s College.

In the Eastern Cape, Grey High lifted the 13th annual Bay Comets Basketball Tournament title.

They were the class of the field, winning all of their group stage matches. They then marched through the playoffs to the title after a poised performance in the championship game.

In the final, Grey High defeated Zwide Eagles Basketball 31-21.

Luko Mgobo, JJ Chipunza, and Logan Galloway were prominent in their challenge and were named in the tournament’s All-Star Team, where they joined their teammate and tournament MVP, Liwa Mgijima.

RESULTS

Gauteng 

KES 48-38 St Benedict’s College
St John’s College 41-36 Parktown Boys’ High
St David’s 55-40 St Alban’s College

KwaZulu-Natal

Northwood 59-53 Westville Boys’ High
St Charles College 60-47 Hilton College
Michaelhouse 65-64 Kearsney College
Maritzburg College 81-70 Durban High School
Empangeni High School 37-35 Richards Bay Christian School
Glenwood 42-38 Clifton College

Eastern Cape 

Grey High 31-21 Zwide Eagles Basketball Club

The South African u20 national women’s team, known as Basetsana, has been eliminated from the FIFA World Cup qualifiers following a 0-1 defeat to Ghana at the Mbombela Stadium on Saturday.

In the first leg of the third round qualifiers, Basetsana journeyed to Ghana and fought hard for a 2-2 draw at the Accra Sports Stadium on 8 February.

During the return leg in Nelspruit, the visitors outperformed the hosts.

The first half concluded without any goals as both teams vigorously chased an opener, yet neither succeeded in breaking the stalemate.

In the second half, the Black Princesses were reenergised. They dictated the pace of the contest, and their persistence was rewarded when Priscilla Mensah netted a goal three minutes after the hour mark to break open the deadlock.

Following the visitors’ goal, Basetsana battled tirelessly to regain their footing in the match, but Ghana’s defence remained resolute.

Ultimately, Ghana maintained their 1-0 advantage until the final whistle, which gave them a 3-2 win on aggregate and a place in the next phase of the competition.

For South Africa, though, their FIFA World Cup dream is over.

The unpredictability and thrill of schoolboys’ basketball was to the fore on the weekend, with St David’s Marist Inanda and Durban High School (DHS) pulling off notable victories over their highly-regarded opponents.

St David’s got the better of St Benedict’s College for the first time since 2023, while DHS ended Northwood‘s long unbeaten streak at home, handing the Knights their first loss on their home court since 2020.

In Sandton, St David’s made their home court advantage count by beating Bennies for the first time since they came out on top in the semi-finals of the St John’s College Basketball Tournament in 2023.

That year, they also beat St Charles College in a pool stage game, but went down 36-40 to the Pietermaritzburg school’s powerhouse team, which was powered by the dominating play of 6’10” Storm Gilchrist, in the final.

Saturday’s win was secured in front of an electrifying crowd, with the Inanda spirit palpable, as St David’s delivered a determined and disciplined performance to secure a hard-fought victory.

The win brought to an end a five-game losing streak against St Benedict’s. Following the victory, the Director of Basketball at St David’s, Elvis Ukpong, said: “It’s not just that we won the game, it’s that we did it by playing our brand of basketball.”

He also lauded his team’s fighting spirit and courage, saying they were the keys to a deserved victory.

Daniel Rautenbanch and Nathan Hwindiwy guided the St David’s team with poise and determination, and they set the standard for their teammates. Thendu Munyai, though, was the player who drove the home side to victory.

Next weekend, St David’s faces another stiff challenge. They’ll be at home against St Alban’s College –  a contest that Ukpong characterised as a fierce confrontation.

St Alban’s took on St John’s College on Saturday and suffered a 46-60 defeat. It’s a result that would have disappointed them, but it will serve as fuel to inspire the Pretoria school against a confident St David’s side. St Alban’s, season after season, remains a top unit, and they’ll be a tough challenge for St David’s

King Edward VII (KES), meanwhile, continued its dominant season with an emphatic 56-35 win over Pretoria Boys High.

Matters were far tighter in the clash between The King’s School Linbro Park and Jeppe High School for Boys. It went down to the wire, with King’s Linbro claiming a narrow 48-47 win.

In KwaZulu-Natal, Durban High School (DHS) ended the long unbeaten home run of the back-to-back St John’s Basketball Tournament champion, Northwood, which had begun way back in 2020.

School started strongly and quickly grabbed a narrow lead. Despite the Knights’ best efforts, they were never able to haul in the visitors, who happily celebrated a win that surely made the rest of KZN’s top teams sit up and take notice.

Kearsney College defeated Glenwood High 74-47 in a match that provided essential playing time for several of Kearsney’s bench players.

After going down to Northwood last weekend, it was a strong comeback and a decisive victory for Kearsney over the visitors.

They exerted their dominance from the first quarter, building a 27-15 lead. In a far tighter second quarter, the Botha’s Hill boys extended their lead. They didn’t score much, but they limited Glenwood to only two points, which left Kearsney 33-17 ahead.

In the third quarter, Kearsney opened up its advantage to 20 points, taking a 52-32 lead into the final quarter. They further stretched their lead to conclude the contest with a clear-cut 74-47 victory.

Kearsney College also took on the Kearsney College Old Boys (KCOB) team. There was plenty of pride at stake, and plenty of action for the spectators to enjoy. When the final whistle sounded, there were only four points in it, with Kearsney securing a 61-57 win.

It was an unforgettable match for Kabo Ramodibedi, who not only received his 50th cap but also lined up against his father, Napo Ramodibedi, who was part of the Old Boys team. His mother, Rethabile, watched from the stands.

Maritzburg College remains in high spirits following their championship victory at the American International School of Johannesburg (AISJ) Basketball Tournament at the end of January. Over the weekend, College thumped Clifton College 84-21.

It was the latest in a long line of impressively dominant performances from the Red, Black, and White.

Westville Boys’ High, meanwhile, controlled the tempo of the game and were better at both ends of the court in an impressive 84-65 defeat of Hilton College.

Michaelhouse also claimed a victory, narrowly defeating St Charles College. ‘House held a narrow lead throughout, but they were never able to relax as Saints kept fighting tigerishly to the final whistle.

There were only three points in it at the end, with Michaelhouse triumphing 54-51.

In the Eastern Cape, Kingswood College secured a 36-10 win over BCM Irons while Queen’s College overran Dale College 52-11.

RESULTS

Gauteng

KES 56-35 Pretoria Boys High
St John’s College 60-46 St Alban’s College
Linbro Park 48-47 Jeppe
St David’s 32-25 St Benedict’s

Eastern Cape

Kingswood College 36-10 BCM Irons
Queen’s College 52-11 Dale College

KwaZulu-Natal

Westville Boys’ High 84-65 Hilton College
Kearsney College 74-47 Glenwood High
Michaelhouse 54-51 St Charles College
Maritzburg College 84-21 Clifton College
DHS 73-69 Northwood

The South African u20 national team, known as Basetsana, played to a 2-2 draw against Ghana in the first leg of an u20 FIFA Women’s World Cup qualifier at the Accra Sports Stadium on Sunday.

In the initial round of World Cup qualifiers, the Black Princesses beat Tunisia 4-0 on aggregate, while Basetsana defeated Eswatini 9-0 over two legs to secure a place in the next round against the West Africans.

The showdown between Ghana and South Africa was highly anticipated, and an open contest was forecast and expected to produce goals.

The players delivered, despite the home team entering the game without their leading scorer, Mercy Attobrah, who had netted twice against Tunisia in Sfax. She also added a third in the qualifier at the Accra Sports Stadium.

She was out, though, with an Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) injury. Yet, her absence didn’t appear to hamper Ghana. They were more threatening than South Africa in the first half and broke the deadlock in the 33rd minute through Agnes Yeboah.

South Africa went into the halftime break trailing 0-1, but just three minutes into the second stanza, they levelled through Khwezi Khoza, who provided the finish after a flowing team move.

Stung, the hosts gathered themselves and went in search of an equaliser. They were rewarded with a goal from a corner, with Linda Owusu converting the opportunity only four minutes after South Africa’s goal.

The home side kept pressing, but Casey Gordon, the South African goalkeeper, successfully thwarted the Ghanaians, pulling off some exceptional saves while commanding her area with authority.

Ghana’s lead lasted only eight minutes. After an hour, Basetsana were level again after Zoe October fired a powerful shot from outside the box into the net to make it 2-2.

The home team fought back, applying pressure and challenging South Africa. They thought they had snatched a late winner, but Jessica Appiah had a goal disallowed because she was deemed offside.

On Saturday, 14 February, the teams meet again at one of South Africa’s premier football venues, the Mbombela Stadium, in Mpumalanga, which was constructed for the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

The weekend’s games captivated the community of basketball enthusiasts as sides sharpened their claws ahead of two big tournaments to be held later this month – Maritzburg College‘s Jenny Orchard Invitational and the St John’s Basketball Tournament.

In KZN, Northwood delivered an impressive performance against Kearsney College, with the Knights winning a very high-scoring, hard-fought contest 98-88 at the Skweyiya SportZone.

It was Kearsney’s fourth outing of the term, and the challenge they faced was their biggest yet. Northwood, under the guidance of coach Kent Vanderyacht, has become a formidable outfit, arguably the best team in the country over the past two years, which included back-to-back titles at the St John’s Basketball Tournament.

It might, therefore, have been viewed as a David versus Goliath Bible clash, but Kearsney, who won the Independent Schools Stayers’ Basketball Tournament on their home court in late 2025, was not a pushover. They’ve been in good form, but they faced a talented Knights’ line-up, which included Siyamthanda Shabalala, a South African u18 national player,  and the prolific Awande Chiliza, two of the architects of the Knights’ dominant run.

In oppressive heat, the games kicked off at an exciting pace, with Kearsney quickly establishing a 7-1 advantage. However, the wear on the Kearsney defence from Northwood’s attacking forays resulted in the visitors being sent to the foul line early and often. With their sights on target, they picked up 12 points from the free throw line and finished the first quarter with a narrow 20-17 lead.

Kearsney kept taking it to Northwood, but each time they threatened to overhaul the Knights, Northwood found a response. By halftime, they had extended their advantage to seven points and led 45-38.

The third quarter marked Kearsney’s most successful offensive period, as they tallied an impressive 28 points. Top teams, though, find a way to repulse challenges, and Northwood added 30 of their own. As the contest entered the final quarter, they enjoyed a 75-64 lead.

All credit to Kearsney, they didn’t lie down. In fact, they edged out Northwood 24-23 over that quarter. Victory, though, went to the Knights by a 10-point margin. With 186 points scored, it was a richly entertaining clash.

Key players for Kearsney included Daniel Prinsloo, a regular starter and a crucial contributor, alongside Pabatso Sithole. They scored 17 and 16 points respectively. Kwa Sibiya and Lubansi Msuleku added 10 each, Ithu Khubeka scored nine, and Kabo Ramadobedi finished with eight points.

Northwood’s challenge was boosted by 25-point outputs from both Siya Shabalala and Awande Chiliza, while Simamukele “Sims” Vacu contributed nine points.

In Durban, the home team, Durban High School (DHS), withstood the crippling heat of the outdoor court’s hot surface, and they also handled Hilton College‘s onslaught to come away with a 60-49 victory.

Westville Boys’ High, meanwhile, shut down Clifton College, romping to an 85-29 victory behind a solid defensive performance, which featured effective fast breaks when they turned over possession.

Maritzburg College, after winning the American International School of Johannesburg (AISJ) Basketball title, is preparing for the annual Jenny Orchard Invitational Tournament, and would dearly love to add a second title in their home tournament.

They faced St Charles College, whom they had beaten in the semi-finals of the AISJ tournament and showed their form remains red hot, charging to a 70-49 win in the SK Arena.

In Zululand, Empangeni High School claimed a narrow 29-26 victory over Aquadene Secondary School in a match distinguished by exceptional sportsmanship.

In the Eastern Cape, St Andrew’s College celebrated a 63-44 victory over Queen’s College, while Grey High defeated Kingswood College by a narrow four-point margin, 34-30.

In Gauteng, St John’s College faced one of their toughest annual challenges when they took on St Benedict’s College, with both teams eager to claim a prestigious scalp ahead of the St John’s Basketball Tournament. In a fierce contest, Bennies recorded a tough 41-32 win.

The game marked an important milestone for Bahlebonke Mazibuko, the St Benedict’s captain, who earned his 100th cap for the first team. His achievement was recognised with praise for his outstanding leadership, dedication, and consistency in representing the Bennies’ basketball team.

King Edward VII School (KES), the runner-up at the St John’s Basketball Tournament in 2024 and the ninth-place finisher in 2025,  continued their strong season with a 65-40 win over Jeppe High School for Boys. St Stithians College, meanwhile, scored a nail-biting 39-38 win over St Alban’s College.

Michaelhouse visited Gauteng and played twice. They pushed the high-flying ESCA all the way, but eventually fell to a 33-36 defeat. ‘House, though, picked up a win over St David’s Marist Inanda, triumphing 36-32 in an evenly-contested clash.

RESULTS

KwaZulu-Natal 

Northwood 98-88 Kearsney College
Maritzburg College 70-49 St Charles College
Durban High School 60-49 Hilton College
Westville Boys’ High 85-29 Clifton College

Eastern Cape 

St Andrew’s College 63-44 Queen’s College
Grey High 34-30 Kingswood College

Gauteng

KES 65-40 Jeppe
St Benedict’s College 41-32 St John’s College
ESCA 36-33 Michaelhouse
St Stithians College 39-38 St Alban’s College
St David’s Marist Inanda 32-28 Michaelhouse

Maritzburg College stole the spotlight at the annual American International School of Johannesburg (AISJ) Basketball Tournament over the weekend, while other schools clashed in their traditional fixtures.

Throughout the weekend, College was on fire, powering their way to the prestigious title with an emphatic victory over The King’s School Linbro Park in the final.

The Red, Black, and White put together a superb run, winning all their group matches before beating St Benedict’s College 36-31 in the quarterfinals. That was as close as any team got to the KZN powerhouse.

In the semi-finals, which delivered a traditional Pietermaritzburg rivalry, Maritzburg College downed St Charles College 41-32 to reach the title decider.

There, they faced The King’s School Linbro Park, a side they had beaten by 23 points in a group stage game. With the title on the line, the KZN side dominated once more, charging to the title with a conclusive 47-20 win.

In Pretoria, Pretoria Boys High School (PHBS) faced off in a derby against St Alban’s College. When the teams met earlier in the year, during the inaugural Pre-Season Basketball Festival at PHBS, Boys High beat St Alban’s on the opening day, but St Alban’s later avenged that defeat in the final game of the festival. On Saturday, PBHS won, running out 40-33 victors.

King Edward VII School (KES), maintaining the momentum they built up in 2025, also secured victory, holding off the Soweto Basketball Academy 60-52 in a closely contested match.

Jeppe High School for Boys faced Christian Brothers’ College Boksburg and asserted their dominance, rolling to a 71-38 win.

In KwaZulu-Natal, Kearsney College hosted their highway rivals, Westville Boys’ High, in a midweek match, in which the home team showcased their strength, winning the game 62-57.

Westville has struggled to find its rhythm in recent outings, but it started strongly against Kearsney, with the hosts sluggish and out of sync offensively in the opening quarter. They manufactured shots, but their shooting was cold. On the other side of the court, Westville scored with relative ease and led 21-12 after the first quarter.

In the second quarter, Kearsney’s defence tightened up, forcing The Griffins, under greater pressure, to rush their shots. Kearsney’s offence became more fluid, and the home team sliced into the visitors’ lead, which was reduced to only two points at halftime, at 34-32.

All credit to Westville, they continued to give as good as they got during the third quarter. The momentum appeared to be with Kearsney, but Westville responded by sinking several challenging shots to preserve their lead. Heading into the final quarter, they were 46-45 ahead.

At last, though, in the final quarter, Westville wilted, missing some opportunities, while Kearsney forced some turnovers. They snatched the lead and, by the final whistle, they were five points clear, winning 62-57.

Pabatso Sithole led the way for Kearsney, with 19 points, while Kabo Ramodibedi contributed 10 points, Daniel Prinsloo nine, Lubanzi Mseleku eight, and Markus Wise six.

Luseko Sikhulume was Westville’s leading scorer, with 16. Tristan van Heerden had 14 points, Lwazi Phungula nine, and Ryan Mansfield five.

On Saturday, Northwood added to its winning streak and solidified its position as the top dogs in South African schools’ basketball. They were given a tough challenge at Hilton College, but came away with an eight-point win in a high-scoring contest that produced 165 points.

Kearsney hosted LIV Village, the winner of the 2025 Tier Two Schools Basketball Tournament at St Benedict’s School. In the familiar confines of The SportZone, Kearsney raced into a decisive early lead and kept building on it until the end of the contest, with Kwakuhle Sibiya contributing 22 points to a big 76-30 victory.

Durban High School (DHS) won by a large margin against Clifton College, while Glenwood, in the absence of the St Charles College first team, picked up a win over the Saints‘ second team.

A couple of matches took place in midweek for teams travelling to the AISJ Basketball Tournament. Apart from Westville facing Kearsney, which was mentioned earlier, Maritzburg College visited Michaelhouse. They ensured they left for Gauteng in a confident frame of mind after outplaying ‘House 68-39.

In the Eastern Cape, Kingswood College secured a 31-22 victory over Queen’s College.

RESULTS

Gauteng 

Pretoria Boys High 40-33 St Alban’s College
KES 60-52 Soweto Basketball Academy
Jeppe 71-38 CBC Boksburg

KwaZulu-Natal

Northwood 86-79 Hilton College
Kearsney College 62-57 Westville
Maritzburg College 68-39 Michaelhouse
Durban High School 78-24 Clifton College
Kearsney College 76-30 LIV Village
Glenwood 51-44 St Charles College 2nd

Eastern Cape 

Kingswood College 31-22 Queen’s College

South Africa’s leading development leagues, the Gauteng Development League (GDL) and the Gauteng Women’s Development League (GWDL), are set to kick off the 2026 season with the customary GDL and GWDL Top 8 competitions.

The tournaments feature the clubs that finished in the top eight of their respective leagues in the 2025 season.

In the boys’ u14 division, the 2025 champions were Kaizer Chiefs, who beat the former SuperSport United, now known as Siwelele, after the sale of the club’s status in 2025.

Amakhosi scored a convincing 4-1 win in the final, held at Tsakane Stadium. They were also the only squad to win a title outside of Mamelodi Sundowns across all divisions of the GDL in 2025.

In the u15 division, last year’s GDL Top 8 winner, Sundowns, beat Chiefs 5-4 on penalties after a 1-1 draw in regular time.

SuperSport United claimed both the u17 and u19 GDL Top 8 titles, with the u17 team defeating the Remember Elite Sport Academy (RESA) in the title game, while the u19 side scored a 2-1 win over the School of Excellence in the u19 final. Tshiamo Selemela and Tshegofatso Modise were the key players, scoring the decisive goals for SuperSport United in the title-decider.

The competition kicks off on 7 February and provides teams with an opportunity to work on their match fitness and, perhaps, if all goes according to plan, to win a trophy early in the season.

Mamelodi Sundowns ruled the GDL in 2025, winning the u13, u15, u17, and u19 league titles, and the club is expected to be in the thick of the hunt for top spot again this year. However, the GDL is renowned for its competitiveness and unpredictability, which makes the path to victory a challenging one.

Among those sides who could challenge Sundowns are Kaizer Chiefs, Siwelele, and the Africa School of Excellence, previously known as the School of Excellence, which was acquired by Chipcor Developers, a subsidiary of Chippa Holdings, founded by Chippa Mpengesi.

Sfiso Mnguni’s Highlands Park, who lost out on the u19 league title to Mamelodi Sundowns on the last day of the season in 2025, thus falling just short of a three-peat, should be in the reckoning again. RESA and Randburg, too, showed last year that they have what it takes to challenge for the title. Their presence will heighten expectations for the GDL Top 8, which should provide an exciting and unpredictable start to the 2026 GDL season.

The competition will run concurrently with the GWDL Top 8, which was last held in 2024, when the inaugural edition was won by Mamelodi Sundowns.

Banyana Ba Style have consistently dominated the GWDL league across all formats over the past three editions. They secured the u15 title in 2023 during the league’s first season, when it featured only that division. In 2024, the GWDL expanded to include two divisions, u14 and u16, and Sundowns won both league titles, while not conceding a goal in 24 matches in the u16 division.

In the 2025 GWDL, there was a shift and increased competition for the Brazilians. Ultimately, though, they lifted the u17 title, but the SAFA Academy won the u15 division, and JVW claimed the inaugural u13 title.

The GWDL Top 8 mirrors the GDL Top 8, with both competitions kicking off on 7 February and sharing the same venue and date for the finals. The details will be confirmed at a later stage of the competition.

With their impressive track record, Sundowns Ladies will be the favourites to lift the trophy, but their journey will not be straightforward.

Teams like Refilwe have already challenged ‘Downs, in both the GWDL and continental competitions, including the u17 Confederation of African Football (Caf) Girls Integrated Football Tournament (GIFT), which Mamelodi Sundowns won in December, in Zimbabwe.

Other teams, including JVW and Panorama, will be eager to elevate their performances and to begin the season with a trophy. A tough challenge awaits, but 2025 revealed greater parity in both the GDL and the GWDL, and that will make for an exciting event.

GDL Top 8 FIXTURES

7 February

Kaizer Chiefs Village

09:00 – Kaizer Chiefs vs Tuks (u14)
10:30 – Kaizer Chiefs vs Panorama (u15)
12:00 – Kaizer Chiefs vs Panorama (u17)
14:00 – Kaizer Chiefs vs Randburg (u19)

Eskom Megawatt Park 

08:30 – Siwelele vs Seven’s Academy (u13)
10:30 – Siwelele vs East Rand Athletic Club (u14)
11:30 – Siwelele vs Randburg (u15)
13:00 – Siwelele vs Seven’s Academy (u17)
14:00 – Siwelele vs RESA (u19)

Balfour Park 

08:30 – Highlands Park vs Tuks (u13)
09:30 – Highlands Park vs Panorama (u14)
11:00 – Africa School of Excellence vs Wits Junior (u15)
14:00 – RESA vs Tuks (u17)
15:00 – Highlands Park vs Wits Junior  (u19)

8 February 

Clapham High School 

08:30 – Mamelodi Sundowns vs Panorama (u13)
09:30 – Mamelodi Sundowns vs Kathorus Hyper Academy (u14)
11:00 – Mamelodi Sundowns vs Joburg City (u15)
13:00 – Mamelodi Sundowns vs Highlands Park (u17)
15:00 – Mamelodi Sundowns vs Kathorus Hyper Academy (u19)

14 February

Semifinals 

Venue: TBC

08:30 – M1 Winner u13 vs M4 Winner u13
09:30 – M1 Winner u14 vs M4 Winner u14
11:00 – M1 Winner u15 vs M4 Winner u15
13:00 – M1 Winner u17 vs M4 Winner u17
15:00 – M1 Winner u19 vs M4 Winner u19

Venue: TBC

08:30 – M2 Winner u13 vs M3 Winner u13
09:30 – M2 Winner u14 vs M3 Winner u14
11:00 – M2 Winner u15 vs M3 Winner u15
13:00 – M2 Winner u17 vs M3 Winner u17
15:00 – M2 Winner u19 vs M3 Winner u19

22 March 

FINALS 

Venue: TBC 

08:30 – M5 Winner u13 vs M6 Winner u13
09:30 – M5 Winner u14 vs M6 Winner u14
11:00 – M5 Winner u15 vs M6 Winner u15
13:00 – M5 Winner u17 vs M6 Winner u17
15:00 – M5 Winner u19 vs M6 Winner u19

GWDL Top 8 FIXTURES

8 February

Chloorkop

09:00 – Mamelodi Sundowns vs Tuks (u13)
10:00 – Mamelodi Sundowns vs Tuks (u15)
11:30 – Mamelodi Sundowns vs Tuks (u17)

JP Bezuidenhout 

09:00 – Edenvale vs Kenneth (u13)
10:15 – Edenvale vs Kenneth (u15)
11:30 – Edenvale vs Kenneth (u17)

Curro Hazeldean 

09:00 – Refilwe vs Panorama (u13)
10:00 – Refilwe vs Panorama (u15)
11:30 – Refilwe vs Panorama (u17)

Highlands Park Linksfield (Bedford Park)

09:00 – JVW vs Kempton Park (u13)
10:00 – JVW vs Kempton Park (u15)
11:00 – JVW vs Kempton Park (u17)

Although the national schools’ season has started quietly, basketball powerhouses in KwaZulu-Natal – including Northwood, Maritzburg College, Kearsney College, and Hilton College – kicked off their campaigns with loud and clear statements on Saturday.

Playing at home, where they’re unbeaten since 2020, Northwood’s Knights put on a clinic of defensive pressure and offensive execution in a big 116-50 victory over Glenwood, who were gallant but outgunned.

Especially in schools’ basketball, triple-figure totals are rare, but coach Kent Vanderyacht‘s team shot the ball well. Sims Vacu drained 15 points, while Siya Shabalala and Awande Chiliza both contributed 24 points and 19 rebounds.

Their execution, leadership, and composure established a benchmark and conveyed a strong message that the Knights will again be an imposing challenge for their opposition.

The game was highly entertaining for the audience, featuring several no-look passes and dunks by Vacu and Shabalala.

Northwood has retained a strong core of players from last season’s dominant squad, while several players have been promoted from 2025’s second team. With top talents Shabalala, Vacu, and Chiliza leading the way, the Knights will remain an exciting and powerful team in 2026.

Maritzburg College, another of the province’s leading basketball-playing schools, fell behind early to Westville Boys’ High but came roaring back to score a sound 56-37 victory.

The Red, Black, and White exhibited enthusiasm, determination, and exceptional teamwork, showcasing a strong series of performances across all age categories. However, it was the first team that stood out with an impressive, high-intensity win.

Also in Pietermaritzburg, St Charles College welcomed Kearsney College at the Samukele Khumalo Arena. The visitors made themselves at home, claiming an 84-61 victory after a fast start, which put them 15 points ahead before Saints scored their first.

St Charles pulled to within 12-23 at the end of the first quarter, but had to play catch-up throughout, and they were unable to close the gap.

Phabatso Sithole, who regularly tops the scoring for Kearsney, did so once again, finishing with 26 points, while Kwa Sibiya lent strong support with 15 of his own. Tividar Maphosa, with 22, and Kwezi Simelane, with 10, led the way for St Charles.

In hot conditions at the Riverside Sports Club, in Durban, Hilton College hung a 60-22 defeat on Clifton College.

The visitors defended their net well, forcing Clifton to take low percentage shots, often from distance. Hilton was also able to get to the basket more often than the home team, leading to easy layups and a comfortable win.

In Gauteng, matters were relatively quiet. Following the inaugural Pre-season Basketball Festival held at Pretoria Boys High School (PHBS), which welcomed 12 teams from Gauteng for pre-season basketball from 8 to 10 January, a couple of matches were played on Saturday.

St John’s College took on St John’s College Old Boys in a friendly and won 67-55.

Jeppe High School for Boys, meanwhile, claimed a big scalp with a 39-24 win over St Benedict’s College.

KZN

Kearsney 84-61 St Charles College
Northwood 116-50 Glenwood
Hilton College 60-22 Clifton College
Maritzburg College 56-37 Westville

Gauteng

St John’s College A 67-55 St John’s College Old Boys
Jeppe 39-24 St Benedict’s College