1st Inter High School & Hr Secondary School basketball tournament kicks off in Mokokchung

The 1st Inter High School and Higher Secondary School Annual Basketball Tournament 2025 officially commenced on Thursday at the BAMD Basketball Court, Imkongmeren Sports Complex, Mokokchung.
Organized by the Basketball Association of Mokokchung District (BAMD), the opening ceremony was graced by Sentinenla, District Education Officer (DEO) Mokokchung, as the special guest.
Sentinenla, District Education Officer (DEO) during her address termed the 1st Inter High School and Higher Secondary Basketball Tournament as a crucial platform for nurturing leadership, sportsmanship, and holistic student development.
She congratulated the Basketball Association Mokokchung District (BAMD) for organizing the tournament and bringing together students from schools within and outside the town, including Changki, Mopungchuket, and Impur.
Reflecting on the past, Sentinenla recalled the once vibrant basketball culture in Mokokchung during her school days, particularly through tournaments like Catch Them Young, where participation from all schools was strong. “Basketball was everywhere. Many of my classmates have become coaches or hold important positions through the sport,” she shared.
She also pointed out a recent resurgence of interest in basketball among youth, especially after the completion of the basketball court in Mokokchung. “Even at night, I see students playing on the court. That’s encouraging,” she remarked.
She assured the gathering that the Education Department supports events that promote co-curricular excellence. “Academic achievement is important, but so is physical fitness and participation in sports,” she said. President of the Basketball Association Mokokchung District (BAMD), Temsutoshi Longkumer, expressed gratitude to all participating students, teachers, and organizing committee members for successfully hosting the 1st Inter High School and Higher Secondary School Basketball Tournament 2025.
He commended the school administrations and teachers for actively supporting and encouraging students to pursue basketball — a globally recognized sport — and guiding them toward a path that can also lead to a professional career in sports.
Longkumer emphasized that the association is committed to nurturing young talent and helping students develop their skills and potential. He encouraged dedicated players to start small and believe in their abilities, citing the example of Naga players who have already represented the state and the country in basketball.
Urging the students to stay disciplined and united, he called on them to bring pride to Mokokchung and Nagaland through their participation and determination.
Referring to the tournament’s theme, “Forging Future,” he reminded players that discipline in sports must reflect in all aspects of life and that every effort made today contributes to a better future for themselves and the community.
In the opening match, Eden Academy secured a dominant victory over Government High School Changki with a score of 38-12. The second match saw Clark Memorial Higher Secondary School defeating Christian Residential Higher Secondary School 25-16. Queen Mary Higher Secondary School overwhelmed Straightway Higher Secondary School in the third match, winning by a massive margin of 59-20. The tournament’s fourth match and first in the girls’ category featured Mayangnokcha Government Higher Secondary School taking on Eden Academy, with Mayangnokcha GHSS clinching a strong 16-2 win. In the fifth match (boys), Mayangnokcha GHSS continued their winning streak by beating Town Higher Secondary School 36-13. The sixth match saw a closely fought contest between Eden Academy and Clark Memorial Higher Secondary School, with Clark Memorial emerging victorious with a narrow 26-23 win.
Tutu Jamir, Convenor of the Organizing Committee, chaired the programme, while Opangkokla presented a song. Merenlong Aier, Co-ordinator of the Technical Team, led the oath-taking ceremony, during which the players pledged to uphold the spirit of sportsmanship, fair play, and discipline throughout the tournament. This was followed by the introduction of players from the participating schools. The event reached its sporting high point with the ceremonial tip-off, officially marking the commencement of the tournament.
The tournament will also recognize the Most Valuable Player (MVP) and the Most Promising Player in both the boys’ and girls’ categories. A total prize money of Rs. 55,000 has been earmarked for the tournament, along with running trophies for the winning teams in both categories. Altogether, 13 teams from 9 schools across Mokokchung district are participating in this inaugural edition.