Kevin Betts Stadium played host to the first ever Basketball Gala Day with160, Year 5 and 6 public school students from Blacktown and Mount Druitt competing.

The tournament saw eight schools go head-to-head following weeks of tryouts and training.

The Basketball Gala Day is the brainchild of Crawford Public School’s teacher-librarian, Prue Blaxland, who wanted to convert her footy-loving school into basketball fanatics.

“It was an amazing day and very exciting for the teams who made the finals,” Ms Blaxland said. “The noise inside the stadium was deafening as the games were very close and exciting. In the finals, teams who were not playing were happily cheering on other schools, which shows a great community spirit with schools in the area.”

“The whole day was about Blacktown and Mount Druitt schools coming together to give the students a chance to play competitive sport.”

Hosted by the Blacktown Basketball Association, who organised trophies and referees, the Gala Day wrapped up with an awards presentation. Shields were awarded to Whalan Public School for best boys' team Hambledon Public School for best girls' team.

Year 6 boys team winners, Noah and Ismail said the secrets to their success were communication, teamwork and patience. 

“I started playing with PCYC three years ago and I enjoy dribbling and scoring,” Noah said. “We got to play in a basketball event for the first time. I liked how many games that we played and that it was inside a stadium.”

Ismail joined basketball with lofty ambitions despite his inexperience.

“I play it because I have never played before and I wanted to win the trophy,” he said. “We got to verse different schools and we won.”

While the Gala Day was an exciting initiative to get students moving, it also feeds into the region’s Inspire program which offers high potential and gifted education to support students to achieve their potential.

The program is helping identify students who are talented in sports and give them the opportunity to participate in different activities.

“Schools like Crawford Public School and others who participated in the event are in discussions with the Blacktown Basketball Association to set up some school clinics and development programs which is another way we are forming strong connections with our local community,” Ms Blaxland said.

“The aim of these fun games is to build positive connections with other schools, provide opportunities for our students to compete against other schools in sport and build up their basketball skills.”

Schools that participated in the Basketball Gala Day included Crawford Public School, Doonside Public School, Marayong Heights Public School, Noumea Public School, Hassall Grove Public School, Plumpton Public School, Whalan Public School and Hambledon Public School.

Plans for the second Basketball Gala Day are already underway, with EOIs to public schools in the Blacktown Local Government Area going out in early 2027.