Basketball Wales National Schools Finals conclude after record participation year

This year’s Schools Competition saw 96 teams from all 21 local authorities across Wales take part, highlighting the continued growth of basketball within schools nationwide.

A total of 32 local authority rounds were delivered, feeding into regional finals across South, Mid & West, and North Wales. Following six months of competition, the pathway culminated with 18 teams progressing to the Basketball Wales National Schools Finals at the Sport Wales National Centre in Cardiff.

Participation highlights

A notable outcome this year was the increase in boys’ participation:

• 2023/24: 1,714 entries
• 2024/25: 1,868 entries
• Increase: +133 participants

This reflects growing engagement in the sport, supported by local authorities and school sport development networks across Wales.

National Finals

The finals brought together the top teams across three age groups in both boys’ and girls’ competitions, with a full day of semi-finals, placement games and finals.

After a competitive schedule, the 2025 national champions were confirmed as:

• Year 7 & 8 Boys – Whitchurch Comprehensive School
• Year 7 & 8 Girls – Llanishen High School
• Year 9 & 10 Boys – St Joseph’s RC High School
• Year 9 & 10 Girls – Ysgol Gyfun Glantaf
• Year 11–13 Boys – St David’s College, Cardiff
• Year 11–13 Girls – Cathays High School

Final results highlights

• Yr 7 & 8 Boys Final: Whitchurch 46–42 Olchfa
• Yr 9 & 10 Boys Final: St Joseph’s 62–42 Bishop Vaughan
• Yr 11–13 Boys Final: St David’s College 59–19 Brynrefail
• Yr 7 & 8 Girls Final: Llanishen 47–21 Penrhyn Dewi
• Yr 9 & 10 Girls Final: Glantaf 37–25 Bishop Vaughan
• Yr 11–13 Girls Final: Cathays 41–33 Olchfa

National champions

• Year 7 & 8 Boys – Whitchurch Comprehensive School
• Year 7 & 8 Girls – Llanishen Comprehensive High School
• Year 9 & 10 Boys – St Joseph’s RC High School
• Year 9 & 10 Girls – Ysgol Gyfun Glantaf
• Year 11–13 Boys – St David’s College, Cardiff
• Year 11–13 Girls – Cathays High School

Looking ahead

This year’s competition demonstrated both the depth of school basketball in Wales and the effectiveness of a structured national pathway. With continued growth in participation and strong collaboration across schools and local authorities, the programme remains an important part of developing the next generation of players.

Full schedule & results

10:00
– Semi-final 1 Boys Yr 7&8: Whitchurch 38–29 Brynrefail A
– Semi-final 1 Boys Yr 9&10: BV 55–38 Myddleton College
– Semi-final 1 Boys Yr 11–13: St David’s College 50–28 Caergybi

10:45
– Semi-final 1 Girls Yr 7&8: Llanishen 58–5 Caergybi
– Semi-final 1 Girls Yr 9&10: Glantaf 54–18 Syr Hugh Owen
– Semi-final 1 Girls Yr 11–13: Cathays 53–9 Syr Hugh Owen

11:30
– Semi-final 2 Boys Yr 7&8: Olchfa 71–10 Brynrefail B
– Semi-final 2 Boys Yr 9&10: St Joseph’s 66–43 Brynrefail
– Semi-final 2 Boys Yr 11–13: Brynrefail 32–29 Crickhowell

12:15
– Semi-final 2 Girls Yr 7&8: Penrhyn Dewi 39–9 Caergybi
– Semi-final 2 Girls Yr 9&10: BV 47–20 Syr Hugh Owen
– Semi-final 2 Girls Yr 11–13: Olchfa 39–18 Syr Hugh Owen

13:00 – 3rd place games
– Boys Yr 7&8: Brynrefail A 41–3 Brynrefail B
– Boys Yr 9&10: Brynrefail 47–34 Myddleton College
– Boys Yr 11–13: Caergybi 62–42 Crickhowell

13:45 – Girls Finals
– Yr 7&8: Llanishen 47–21 Penrhyn Dewi
– Yr 9&10: Glantaf 37–25 BV
– Yr 11–13: Cathays 41–33 Olchfa

14:30 – Boys Finals
– 14:30 – Yr 7&8 Boys: Whitchurch 46–42 Olchfa
– 15:15 – Yr 9&10 Boys: St Joseph’s 62–42 BV
– 16:00 – Yr 11–13 Boys: St David’s College 59–19 Brynrefail