School’s doing loops over hoops

By Russell Bennett
BELGRAVE South Primary School students are shooting for the stars as part of McDonald’s Hoop Time basketball competition.
Three of the school’s teams have progressed through to the final 20 in Victoria in each of their divisions.
The boys and girls Grade 3 and 4 teams have made it through in the ‘All-Star’ competition where they will face off against the best basketballers from public and private primary schools throughout the state.
Belgrave South’s ‘Future Stars’ team, for students with developing skills, has also advanced.
School library technician and basketball coach Jenny James was over the moon about the success of her teams. “I’ve been doing this for 14 years and this is the first time we’ve got three teams through (to the final 20),” she said.
“Our boys’ All-Star team is still undefeated and we’re the only school, either public or private, with three teams in the final 20. It’s quite remarkable and it’s just so exciting.”
The McDonald’s Hoop Time program concludes at the end of each year with regional finals and a state grand final. Currently more than 32,000 kids are involved across 480 schools.
Should Belgrave South make it, the grand final is on 23 November in Dandenong.