Franklin U20 Men Make Historic Top 4 Finish at Foot Locker Nationals

The Franklin U20 Men’s team has achieved a historic milestone, becoming the first Franklin U20 side to finish in the Top 4 at the Basketball New Zealand Foot Locker U20 Nationals, held over the King’s Birthday weekend in Porirua.

The team concluded the tournament with an outstanding 4th place finish overall, marking a significant step forward for the programme and highlighting the continued development of junior basketball within the Franklin region.

Congratulations to Harry Kelso, who was named in the Men’s U20 All-Star Five, acknowledging his consistent impact and standout performances throughout the tournament.

Below is a summary of our campaign over the weekend.

From left to right: Malachi Tulafono (Head Coach), Riley Fern, Kacius Tupaea, Noah Williams, Cody Sheppard, Tamati Schaumkel, Braedyn Northcott, Isaiah Dunn, Reuben Brooker, Nathaniel Short, Jaxyn Bell, Harry Kelso, Ezekiel Otunuku, Jamie Reddish (Assistant Coach), Wi Te Pou (Assistant Coach)

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Tournament Summary Results

Game 1 – Opening Round: Pool Play

Franklin vs Te Aroha

Result: Win 86 - 82

Game 2 – Pool Play

Franklin vs Auckland

Result: Win 86 - 60

Game 3 – Pool Play

Franklin vs Wellington

Result: Win 78 - 65

This result secured a place in the Top 8.

Game 4 – Quarter Finals

Franklin vs Harbour

Result: Win 95 - 85

With progression on the line, Franklin produced a determined performance to secure their place in the top four. The team showed resilience under pressure, with key defensive stops and timely scoring proving decisive.

Game 5 – Semi-Final

Franklin vs Waitākere West

Result: Loss 69 - 77

Franklin faced high-level opposition in the semi-final and delivered a strong and disciplined performance. While the result did not fall in Franklin’s favour, the team competed strongly throughout and demonstrated the standards required at the elite national level.

Game 6 – 3rd/4th Playoff

Franklin vs Nelson

Result: Loss = 4th Place 87 - 67

In the final game of the tournament, Franklin battled for third place but ultimately finished in 4th position overall. Despite the result, the performance reflected the team’s determination and commitment across the weekend.

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Men’s U20 All-Star Five Selection

Franklin Basketball congratulates Harry Kelso on his selection in the Men’s U20 All-Star Five. This recognition is a testament to Harry’s hard work, consistency, and commitment to basketball.

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Coach and Manager’s Highlight

Franklin Basketball would like to acknowledge and thank the coaching and management group for their work with the team throughout the tournament. This includes Head Coach Malachi Tulafono, Assistant Coaches Jamie Reddish and Wi Te Pou, and Team Managers Liz and Scott Kelso, who all contributed significantly across the weekend.

Their leadership, organisation, and support were instrumental in ensuring the team was well-prepared and able to perform at a high level throughout the competition.

Franklin Basketball would also like to acknowledge the wider 15-man squad and extended training players (Taiapua Pakaurangi, Cooper Jayne, Daniel Campi, Jaxen Hood, Kahungunu Aubrey-Lindsay) who were not in attendance but contributed to the team’s preparation and environment. Their energy, commitment, and support throughout the campaign all played an important role in the team’s overall success.

Words from Coach Malachi:

“I couldn't be more pleased with our team's 2026 run. Regardless of our previous results, this group embraced being the underdogs and turned that into one of the most memorable campaigns in our programme’s history. The boys showed they belonged amongst the country's top teams, and finishing 4th in New Zealand is something they should be incredibly proud of. This result is a testament to the hard work they've put in over many years and the commitment they've shown to our Franklin programme. We thank all our top age players who move on with their basketball journey. You have cemented your name in Franklin's history and now act as a goal for future teams to strive to beat. Seeing multiple people tuning into the livestream, our supporters' messages, and the people who travelled to be there meant the world to our team and helped fuel an unforgettable run.”