Iona international basketball tour

The tour was a journey filled with competition, growth, and unforgettable experiences., with Iona’s representatives showing determination, resilience, and camaraderie while competing against some of the best high-school basketball teams in California.

In an Iona first, a documentary was made of the tour, which will premiere before the beginning of the new AIC basketball season in Term 3.

You can get a sneak peek at the documentary trailer by scanning the QR code below:

Split into ‘Junior Varsity’ and ‘Varsity’ teams, our Ionians faced fierce competition at their first engagement at Rocklin High School.

The Junior Varsity squad, made up of Year 9 and 10 students, fought hard but suffered a heartbreaking buzzer-beater loss to Langston Hughes Academy in their opening match.

Despite this, they remained competitive in their games against McQueen and Sierra High Schools, showing remarkable perseverance.

Meanwhile, the Varsity team, composed of Year 11 and 12 students, faced the challenge of competing against three-time Californian champions, Lincoln High School.

Although they struggled against Lincoln’s elite talent, they showed resilience in their subsequent match-ups against Woodside and Pleasant Valley High Schools.

While the results didn’t always go in their favour, the teams earned the respect of opposing coaches, players and spectators for their work ethic and sportsmanship.

A highlight off the court was watching an NBA game at the Chase Center, where Steph Curry and the Golden State Warriors secured a thrilling victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves.

The second tournament for Iona’s teams awaited in Los Angeles at Bolsa Grande and San Juan Valley High Schools. The Junior Varsity team showed incredible growth, winning four consecutive games to reach the Bolsa Grande Tournament Consolation Final.

Though they fell to Fountain Valley High School, their performance was commendable.

The Varsity team faced powerhouse Mater Dei High School – one of the most decorated programs in US high school basketball.

Competing against a team featuring future-NBA draft prospects was an invaluable learning experience for the players.

To round off their time in America, the team explored Hollywood’s Walk of Fame, and visited SoFi Stadium to witness an NFL showdown between the LA Chargers and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

After two weeks of intense competition and countless memories, the Iona touring party returned home with more than just enhanced basketball skills. They gained invaluable lessons in teamwork, resilience, and gratitude.

Thanks to the staff who travelled with the tour and made it a success, particularly Mr Liam Bigler whose hard work behind the scenes made it an unforgettable experience for our students.