2026 U18 National Championships at Pulman Arena, South Auckland, July 8th-11th
The 2026 Foot Locker U18 National Champions are Wellington and Canterbury with Harbour having to settle for a runner-up spot in both the Men’s and Women’s Championships.
In the Girls Final Wellington had to withstand a fourth quarter resurgence by Harbour before winning 95-80. An outstanding opening half from Wellington saw them build a 59-39 lead extended to 82-61 at the three-quarter mark.
Harbour, inspired by Maddison Skelton and Natalja Burton embarked on a 17-3 run to cut the deficit to 85-78 with four minutes to play.
Te Ao Rangi Tawhara then stepped up for Wellington with seven points in a couple of minutes before Amokura Waitere-Penny put the seal on the victory.
Ameia Williams (22 points, 9 rebounds and 5 assists), Sienna Letoa-Tuala (17 points and 12 rebounds) and Amokura Waitere-Penny (16 points and 13 rebounds) paced the Wellington effort with Riley Sina’au (21 points), Maddie Skelton (19 points) and Natalja Burton (16 points and 11 rebounds) leading the way for Harbour.
Wellington 95 – Ameia Williams 22pts, Sienna Letoa-Tuala 17pts, Amokura Waitere-Penny 16pts, Nevaeh Scirkovich 14pts, Te Ao Rangi Tawhara 13pts
Harbour 80 – Riley Sina’au 21pts, Maddison Skelton 19pts, Natalja Burton 16pts, Ella Drake 9pts
Foot Locker U18 Girls Most Valuable Player: Ameia Williams (Wellington)
U18 Girls All-Star 5
Natalja Burton (Harbour), Nevaeh Scirkovich (Wellington), Maniah Taefu (Canterbury), Marewa Waerea-Tamai (Rotorua), Ameia Williams (Wellington)
Foot Locker U18 Girls Defensive Player of the Tournament: Ameia Williams (Wellington)
Girls 3rd/4th Play-off
Rotorua 72 Canterbury 65
Other Placings:
5th Counties Manukau
6th Canterbury B
7th Waikato
8th Harbour B
9th Auckland
10th Hutt Valley
11th South Canterbury
12th Taranaki
13th Tauranga
14th Waitakere West
15th Southland
16th Franklin
In the Boys Final Canterbury led for most of the contest as they beat Harbour 101-90 to make it back-to back Under 18 championships.
In a game featuring a number of players that featured for New Zealand at the FIBA U17 World Cup in Turkey last week Canterbury had built a 55-46 half-time lead they had to see off a Harbour comeback in a thrilling third period.
Four times in the quarter Harbour levelled the scores and after the final leveller the Cantabrians opened up a ten-point advantage and were still eight to the good at three-quarter time (78-70).
Despite the best efforts from Harbour, Canterbury were able to maintain a double digit lead through the final minutes – Benji Marsh with a composed 11 points down the stretch.
Marsh finished with 19 points, Roma Tuimaunei added 23 points and 10 rebounds, Leonidas Swainson scored 17 while Tawhiri Cate and Finn Langrell totalled 13 points each.
For Harbour Noah Duncan scored a game high 24 points to go with a do, Daley Pohio and Lincoln Wilson notched 18 apiece, Malakhai Joyner scored 15 and Zach Guy tallied 13 points.
Canterbury 101 – Roma Tuimaunei 23pts, Benji Marsh 19pts, Leonidas Swainson 17pts, Tawhiri Cate 13pts, Finn Langrell 13pts
Harbour 90 – Noah Duncan 24pts, Daley Pohio 18pts, Lincoln Wilson 18pts, Malakhai Joyner 15pts, Zach Guy 13pts
Foot Locker U18 Boys Most Valuable Player: Roma Tuimaunei (Canterbury)
U18 Boys All-Star 5: Zach Guy (Harbour), Benjamin Marsh (Canterbury), Lawson Pryor (Auckland), Roma Tuimaunei (Canterbury), Kahlo Tuuta (Taranaki)
Foot Locker U18 Boys Defensive Player of the Tournament: Taye Thomson
Boys 3rd/4th Play-off
Auckland 102 Taranaki 101
Other Placings:
5th Waitakere West
6th Wellington
7th Waikato
8th Counties
9th Hutt Valley
10th Hawkes Bay
11th Nelson
12th Tauranga
13th Canterbury B
14th North Otago
15th Manawatu
16th Otago
17th Harbour B
18th Te Aroha, Rotorua and Northland
