A local basketball team is hoping to turn scrap metal to gold in their attempt to get to nationals.
After Geraldine High School’s senior A boys basketball team unexpectedly qualified for nationals at a recent tournament — leaving less than a month before the event would be held in the North Island — the team organised a scrap metal collection drive.
The team would be one of 12 playing in their category at the nationals; with seven teams from the North Island and five from the South Island.
They were one of two South Canterbury teams heading to the event, the other was Waimate High School’s girls team, who had qualified when they won the Southern Cup on the same weekend the boys team had qualified.
Point guard Ethan Hole said while the boys team had not won, they had been proud they had only lost one game in the tournament (7-1) while other teams had lost more.
He said the team had also beaten the winners in an earlier match in the same tournament.
The competition ensured teams were competing against schools with a similar size.
The team — made up of year 11 to 13 — had played against teams like Hornby High School and St Kevin’s College in Oamaru.
Fundraising spokeswoman Michelle Cramond said there would be a short turnaround before the team were off, but they could collect scrap metal after they had come back to ‘‘recover costs’’.
Ms Cramond said if anyone had scrap metal to donate to reach out to the school office.
There was a google document to fill out which would help the boys to identify it on Sunday.
They could collect from anywhere in South Canterbury.
They would happily come and collect any scrap metals like corrugated iron, old warratahs, old engines and old farm implements.
The boys will help lift it out.
‘‘They’re big strapping lads.’’
Team member Cayden Halsey said people donating the scrap metal would be showing the team members that they had the community’s support.
‘‘It is a big thing for Geraldine High School, it will put Geraldine on the map.’’
Ms Cramond said she was looking in to whether it was the first time the high school had made a national basketball tournament.
The high school had 170 basketball players between year 7 and year 13, and some of the older boys coached the junior players.
