Pupils are proud after last-four exit

May 9 2008 by Alec Doyle, Chester Chronicle

BIG Storage Cheshire Jets’ Hoops4Health champions Hoole Primary School reached the semi-finals of the national competition.

The Jets delivered the Hoops4Health programme to 64 Cheshire primary schools, including every one in Chester.

Players brought healthy lifestyle messages to pupils concerning fitness, eating, smoking – plus basketball skills.

A team was chosen to represent each school and following tournaments and a grand final during the interval of a Jets BBL Championship game, Hoole CofE Primary were the victors.

Their squad – Jay Bennion, Mia Connolly, Alex Kirk, Holly Ouseley, Adam Pascoe, Tyler Roberts, Issac Robinson, Mandine Roubard, Saruwar Uddin and Calvin Williams – went forward to represent the Jets at the national Hoops4Health final at the BBL Playoffs at the NIA in Birmingham. They competed against eight other schools representing the other BBL clubs.

Hoole won their first two games against Guildford Heat and Leicester Riders before narrowly losing to London.

In the semi- finals, in front of 6,000 fans, they lost to the eventual winners from Greenwich.

Judith Sharman, headteacher at Hoole, said: “We are all really proud of the children. The whole school community had a great day out in Birmingham.

“The work the Cheshire Jets are doing in our schools in truly excellent.”

Cheshire Jets director Pete Hawkins, added: “Hoole represented the Jets with real credit.” He added that the club plans to expand the programme next season to include schools from Warrington and Flintshire.

While Jets head coach Paul Smith busies himself with player recruitment this summer, the club is also preparing to set up an official “Jetettes” cheerleading squad. Visit www.jetsbasketball.org.uk for more details.