Defending their title, and claiming their third regional win, Hillcrest High School were crowned champions at the Highway Regional in the SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Fast 5’s Netball Challenge at Curro Hillcrest on Saturday 27 September. 

 
Meeting Luthayi High School for the second year running in the regional final, Hillcrest were victorious in a hotly contested and very physical game that ended with only two points separating the finalists. 
 
Hillcrest drew first blood in both halves after a tussle in the first minute, getting the ball to their towering Goal Shooter, Michaela Clegg who pocketed 1 point both times. Luthayi made quick work of replying to both attacks levelling the score on the other end. 
 
The score at halftime had Hillcrest High School looking demanding with a 4 point lead with the scoreboard on 9-5. All points were scored by their powerhouse Clegg. Special mention to the minute Goal Attack Ziyanda Mabhida for her ‘ballsy’, adventurous long-range shooting from beyond the 2 point circle. If given the opportunity, she would flight her attempt, often skimming the rim with the ball being scooped up shooters, Emma Atkinson and Clegg, and quickly sinking in a point. 19 seconds till the break’s whistle, the petite Mabhida launched a spectacular 2 pointer, giving her team a bounce in their step as they went into halftime. 
 
Luthayi, may have been slightly more vertically challenged than their opponents but their springbok defence saw their pintsize players flying around intercepting and turning over play regularly. Spurred by their middleman, Aphile Sibisi with a jack in the box energy, she ignited her troops when she was subbed in the second half. Light on her feet, she zipped around the court in search of disrupting play expertly, resulting in some spectacular plays that had Luthayi on top in the second half. Luthayi sunk 9 points to Hillcrest’s 7. The final tally in favour of the defending champs was 16-14.
 
Hillcrest were the first ever team to win a regional title in the SPAR Fast 5’s Challenge in 2019, with Luthayi claiming the title in 2022. With podium finishes in all of their appearances at the SPAR Challenge, Luthayi have finished second for the last three years. 
 
In the lead up to the final, Hillcrest topped Pool A winning all of their games, with Kloof High School settled in second place. Luthayi dominated Pool B while Westville Girls’ High School nudged host school, Curro Hillcrest out for their first semifinal appearance. 
 
Hillcrest High School met Westville Girls’ High School in the first semifinal. Sticking to the gameplan, Hillcrest fired the ball up to their soaring shooters, who both contributed handsomely to the total 80 goals scored in their five games, registering another 18 points in the semi, while Westville eked out 9 hard earned points. In the second semi, Kloof made Luthayi work for their victory. Finding themselves three points down midway, they raised their tempo in the second half. Luthayi were 6-3 at halftime, but Kloof levelled each move in the second half, with both teams netting 6 points in the second half. Luthayi’s advantage in the first half gave them 3 points grace to advance to the final. 
 
The tournament wraps up with the final regional taking place at Pietermaritzburg Girls’ High School for the Midlands Regional on Saturday 18 October. 
 

Results

Regional Final
Hillcrest High School 16 vs Luthayi High School 14
 
Semifinals
Hillcrest High School 18 vs Westville Girls’ High School 9; Luthayi High School 12 vs Kloof High School 9
 
Pool A
1 Hillcrest High School 12pts; 2 Kloof High School 9pts; 3 Inanda Seminary School 6pts; Thomas More College 3pts; Sasti College 0pts
 
Pool B
1 Luthayi High School 12pts; 2 Westville Girls’ High School 9pts; 3 Curro Hillcrest 6pts; 4 Gelofte Skool 3pts; 5 Waterfall College 0pts