Cross Over Basketball

Has your school entered yet? 🏀

Every school across Dunedin and Taieri has now been invited to enter the 2026 Cross Over Taieri vs Town Tournament for Year 5 & 6 students.

Only 9 team places remain.

Keen to play? Check with your school and, if you're able, consider volunteering as Team Manager to help make it happen.

THE GRIND IS BACK

The holidays are where players separate themselves.

If your child is serious about improving their basketball, The Grind is our most intensive holiday training programme.

This isn't a holiday camp.

It's a high-performance environment focused on:
🏀 Elite skill development
🏀 Game decision-making
🏀 Shooting & finishing
🏀 Ball handling
🏀 Basketball IQ
🏀 Building winning habits

Led by Tim Gillan (Cross Over Head Coach) and Jeff Sparrow (Otago Nuggets Head Coach), every session is designed to challenge motivated players and accelerate their development.

📅 Monday 13 July – Sunday 19 July
📍 Edgar Centre (Mon–Fri & Sun)
📍 Otago Girls' High School Gym (Saturday)

⏰ Sessions:
• 12:30pm–1:55pm
• 2:00pm–3:25pm

Ages 10+

$45 per session or $240 for all 7 sessions

With limited numbers and a high coach-to-player ratio, players receive plenty of individual feedback and coaching.

Commit to the Grind. Improve your game.

👉 Register here: https://forms.gle/ZU1agxptBf4Wwdw87

🏆 Sidekick U14 SELECT LEAGUE – INAUGURAL GRAND FINAL

Some games have a winner.

Some games create memories.

This game created history.

The inaugural Sidekick U14 Select League Grand Final between Better Creative Clutch and Reid Cooper Gray Triple Threat delivered one of the greatest junior basketball games you’ll ever witness.

All game, neither team could break away. The largest lead of the entire game was just 6 points, with every run answered and every possession fiercely contested.

The effort was unbelievable.

Players threw themselves onto loose balls. Defenders battled for every inch of space. Every rebound was fought for. Every basket had to be earned. It was championship basketball at its very best.

Clutch found another level after halftime.

Kano Gough caught fire, scoring 18 points in the second half, including an incredible stretch where he poured in 14 unanswered points. His two huge three-pointers ignited Clutch and swung momentum when they needed it most.

Jayden Boek was everywhere. He dominated the boards with 20 rebounds, repeatedly turning defensive stops into fast-break opportunities. Once he got downhill, he was almost impossible to stop. Atticus Wood also found his rhythm, knocking down a string of deep jump shots to give Clutch another dangerous offensive weapon.

But Triple Threat simply refused to go away.

Levi Gillan produced a big performance, finishing with 25 points while constantly collapsing the defence, creating opportunities for teammates and fearlessly taking on the biggest shots. Jeff Alea electrified the game with his speed and athleticism, reading passing lanes for steals, soaring for rebounds and finishing strongly in transition.

Beckett Houltham enjoyed his best shooting performance of the season, confidently knocking down deep jump shots, while Edmund Lu delivered one of the biggest baskets of the afternoon, drilling a clutch baseline jumper under immense pressure.

Late in the fourth quarter, Kobe Guise produced one of the defining moments of the game, powering through contact for a huge And-1, lifting Clutch and the crowd.

Still, Triple Threat answered.

When the final siren sounded at the end of regulation, the scoreboard still couldn’t separate them.

Overtime.

With just 3 seconds remaining, Jayden Boek calmly knocked down a free throw to put Clutch ahead by one point.

One final timeout.

One final play.

Triple Threat advanced the ball from the sideline.

Clutch defended the play brilliantly, forcing Levi Gillan into an incredibly difficult fading hook shot over a triple team.

The buzzer sounded.

The ball climbed high into the air.

For a split second, the entire gym stood still.

Nothing but net.

Triple Threat had won the inaugural Sidekick U14 Select League Championship on the final shot of the game.

An unforgettable finish to an unforgettable season.

To every player, coach, referee, volunteer, family and sponsor, thank you for making this inaugural competition such a special success. The skill, sportsmanship, competitiveness and heart displayed throughout the season have been outstanding.

If this Grand Final is a glimpse of the future, the Sidekick U14 Select League is going to create many more memories in the years ahead.

Congratulations to Reid Cooper Gray Triple Threat, our inaugural Sidekick U14 Select League Champions, and to Better Creative Clutch for an incredible championship performance.

🎥 Watch the full Grand Final replay here:

Sidekick U14 SELECT LEAGUE Grand Final Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

3 Days to go…

🏀 School Holiday Basketball Camp 🏀

The Otago Nuggets and Cross Over Basketball are teaming up these school holidays to bring you two action-packed afternoons of basketball, skill development and fun!

🗓️ July 6 & 7
⏰ 12:00pm – 3:00pm
📍 Edgar Centre

Whether you're looking to improve your game, learn new skills or simply have fun on the court, this camp is the perfect way to spend the holidays.

Proudly brought to you by Taylormade Motors.

🏀 Places are limited, so don't miss out!

Register now 👇
https://forms.gle/GB54LAgfHheWZJKo8

New Zealand National Basketball League Better Creative Agency
Cross Over Basketball Taylormade Motors

A huge thank you to Better Creative!

A massive thank you to Paul and the team at Better Creative for generously donating our new basketball coaching boards.

These boards allow our coaches to explain concepts more clearly, make on-the-spot adjustments, and help players better understand spacing, movement and decision-making.

As Cross Over continues to grow, we’re committed to raising the standard of everything we do. Investing in better coaching tools is another step towards creating a more professional, high-performance environment for our players.

We really appreciate your ongoing support of youth basketball in our community. Thank you, Paul!

Sidekick U14 SELECT LEAGUE – PLAYOFF RESULTS

What a day of basketball! Congratulations to our four playoff teams for an outstanding afternoon of high-intensity, competitive basketball. The effort, teamwork and growth on display made for two fantastic Semi Finals.

Semi Final Results

Reid Cooper Gray TRIPLE THREAT 56 def. Downer SWISH 50

🎥 Watch the full game replay here:
https://youtube.com/live/PE8qPwKr-r8

Better Creative CLUTCH 47 def. Craig Cockburn Builders LOCKDOWN 40

🎥 Watch the full game replay here:
https://youtube.com/live/XsO1ofQ482g

A huge congratulations to Triple Threat and Clutch, who have earned their place in the inaugural Sidekick U14 Select League Grand Final.

FINALS DAY – THIS SUNDAY!

3:00 PM – Blitz Game 1
Otago Heating & Ventilation HEAT CHECK v Downer SWISH

3:30 PM – Blitz Game 2
Otago Heating & Ventilation HEAT CHECK v Craig Cockburn Builders LOCKDOWN

4:15 PM – GRAND FINAL
Reid Cooper Gray TRIPLE THREAT v Better Creative CLUTCH

5:15 PM – Prize Giving

📍 Kaikorai Valley College

We'd love to see a big crowd as we celebrate an incredible inaugural season of the Sidekick U14 Select League. Good luck to all five teams competing on Finals Day!

🏀 OTAGO NUGGETS x CROSS OVER BALLERS CLINIC 🏀

Looking for something fun these July school holidays?

Join the Night 'n Day Otago Nuggets and Cross Over Basketball for skill development, games and plenty of fun!

📍 Edgar Centre
📅 Monday 6 July & Tuesday 7 July
⏰ 12:00pm – 3:00pm
👦 Open to School Years 3–8
💲 $50 per child, per session

Whether your child is new to basketball or already loves the game, this is a fantastic opportunity to learn from some of Otago's best coaches and players.

🎟 Register here:
🔗 https://www.crossoverbasketball.co.nz/events/ballers-clinic

Spaces are limited, so don't wait too long!

Sidekick U14 SELECT LEAGUE
– ROUND 5 RESULTS

Another awesome Sunday of competitive Academy basketball! The improvement, teamwork and intensity continue to grow each week, and with just one week to go before Finals Day, every possession mattered.

Round 5 Results
Reid Cooper Gray TRIPLE THREAT 60 def. Otago Heating & Ventilation HEAT CHECK 50

🎥 Watch the full game replays here: https://www.youtube.com/live/rt2q6zMfSDA?si=5OEOu9KkREWMhAs9

Better Creative CLUTCH 71 def. Craig Cockburn Builders LOCKDOWN 59

Congratulations to all four teams on another fantastic afternoon of basketball. The growth in decision-making, confidence and competitiveness has been outstanding throughout the season.

🎥 Watch the full game replays here: https://www.youtube.com/live/d9x9QVxzZhY?si=5l4rl8k-UEPZ_ZFS

⸻

PLAYOFFS START NEXT SUNDAY!

It’s win or go home as our inaugural Side Kick U14 Select League enters the Semi Finals.

3:00 PM – Semi Final 1
#1 Reid Cooper Gray TRIPLE THREAT v #4 Downer SWISH

4:15 PM – Semi Final 2
#2 Better Creative CLUTCH v #3 Craig Cockburn Builders LOCKDOWN

📍 Kaikorai Valley College

Good luck to all four teams chasing a place in the Championship Final! 💜🖤