Despite the name of the venue, this event is no secret. During this most recent school closure, student-athletes have taken actions into their own hands. Whilst the school’s facilities may be closed ISB basketball players have persevered to play the sport they love. An inter-class tournament has been taking place here in Nichada. Secret Garden, the home to many past events has now been transformed into the location for the SGORT (Secret Garden Open Runs Tournament). With the school’s regular return of sports just around the corner, this is a perfect way for the competitors to stay in form for the upcoming season.
Tournament commissioner and organizer Armaan Ali Khan has been hard at work arranging matchups and times for this event. “It hasn’t been an easy process, but it’s definitely fulfilling and worth it to see everything come together the way it has.” he says. The three competing years, class of 2022, 23, and 24 have picked their teams and suited up to compete on Nichada’s greatest stage. To most this may seem like a friendly get-together to play basketball however to the athletes taking part, it is much more.
Throughout this tournament rivalries have sparked, one of these being between the sophomores and the seniors. The classes of 24’ and 22’ have clashed many times each battle being more competitive than the last. To many, these games mean much more than just basketball. Up and coming sophomore Shawn Ando speaks on the matchup “It really means a lot, to us sophomores especially, we have everything to prove and nothing to lose so I just wanna get out there and leave it all on the court."
With this newfound heated matchup, players had lots to look forward to in future games. On September 15, the two teams set out to play each other for the first time. Nichada’s greatest rivalry disappointed none as the opening game of the tournament went down to the wire. With one point separating the two, one man stepped up to the challenge to end the game once and for all. The one and only Leimi Zhou, a grade 10 student ended the game with a difficult shot from deep. Leimi gave us his perspective on the life-changing shot; "I spent the whole day getting right for the game. I felt great stepping on the court, but as the game went on I began to get more and more nervous. When it came down to the moment, I caught the ball and just shot it without a doubt, and as soon as it left my hand I knew".
With the sophomore completing the jaw-dropping upset win against the seniors it seemed as though nothing could go wrong. However, as commissioner Armaan Ali Khan said, not everything was an easy process. Many factors hindered the flow of the event. Rain delays and covid mandates were key in the slowing of the tournament. Unplayable conditions due to heavy rain were a big issue however after the storms cleared, we were back.
At the end of the day, the whole Secret Garden Open Runs operation has been a massive success. With plenty of positive feedback from participants and spectators, it's seeming as though SGOR will become a long-lasting tradition here in Nichada. Whether it's to watch the tournament or to simply play some basketball more and more people have been making their way down to Secret Garden. Why not join them? Who knows, you might fit right in.