Seen as emblematic of the revival of basketball culture in the otherwise football-frenzied town of Mokokchung, Nagaland, the first-ever Inter High School & Higher Secondary School Basketball Tournament (IHSHSSBT) tipped off at the BAMD Court, Imkongmeren Sports Complex here today. The tournament is being organized by the Basketball Association Mokokchung District (BAMD) under the aegis of the Nagaland Basketball Association (NBA).
While inter-school basketball tournaments were previously organized by Queen Mary Higher Secondary School (QMHSS), this year’s edition marks the first tournament organized by an official district-level sports body.
A total of 13 teams representing nine schools from across the district, including three schools from outside Mokokchung town, are hitting the court. There are nine boys’ teams and four girls’ teams in the fray. The outstation teams include GHS Changki, Clark Memorial Higher Secondary School (CMHSS) Impur, and Yajen Aier GHS Mopungchuket.
Eden Academy, QMHSS, Christian Residential Higher Secondary School (CRHSS), and Mayangnokcha Government Higher Secondary School (MGHSS) are fielding teams in both boys’ and girls’ brackets. Schools fielding only boys’ teams include GHS Changki, CMHSS Impur, Yajen Aier GHS Mopungchuket, Straightway HSS, and Town HSS Mokokchung.
Teams are divided into two pools in both categories. In the boys’ division, Pool A has five teams, while Pool B has four. In the girls’ division, both Pool A and B consist of two teams each, ensuring all teams automatically advance to the semifinals, regardless of group stage outcomes.
The tournament follows a league-cum-knockout format. Boys’ matches are played with four quarters of 8-minute running time, increasing to 10 minutes in the final. For girls, quarters are 6 minutes each, extended to 8 minutes in the final. Alongside cash prizes, winners in both categories will lift the running trophy. Individual prizes include Most Valuable Player (MVP) and Most Promising Player awards in both divisions.
In the opening game, Eden Academy defeated GHS Changki, 38-12, showcasing some standout individual performances. Eden captain Imkongakum was the first player to score in the tournament and finished with a game-high 22 points, blending slick dribbling and offensive leadership, already staking a strong claim for MVP. Although GHS Changki led 7–6 at the end of the first quarter, they managed only five more points for the rest of the game as Eden stormed ahead for a convincing win.
Ten games were played on Day 1 (see inset for results), with another ten scheduled for tomorrow, including the girls’ semifinals. The boys’ semifinals and both finals will be played on July 12.
Speaking as the special guest at the opening ceremony of the 1st Inter High School and Higher Secondary School Basketball Tournament 2025, Sentinenla, District Education Officer (DEO) Mokokchung, reflected on the evolution of the sport in the district. Drawing a contrast between past and present, she recalled how basketball was once a leading discipline in school sports, promoted through initiatives like Catch Them Young tournaments. She noted that many of her contemporaries from that era have become coaches or hold prominent positions today, crediting the discipline and teamwork instilled by the sport.
Acknowledging a decline in basketball activities over recent decades, Sentinenla highlighted a renewed interest among students, especially after the completion of the new BAMD Court in town. She encouraged schools and the wider community to support such tournaments that bring together players from diverse backgrounds. She said that the tournament reflects what sport can do – bringing together students from different backgrounds and help forge meaningful bonds. She applauded the participation of schools from outside Mokokchung town.
The DEO reaffirmed the Education Department’s support for co-curricular activities that promote holistic development. “Academic achievement is essential, but physical health is equally important,” she stated.
Commending the efforts of the Basketball Association Mokokchung District (BAMD), teachers, and school administrators, she urged players to compete with passion, humility, and sportsmanship, adding that every game is an opportunity to level up.
Temsutoshi Longkumer, President of BAMD, thanked the participating schools and the organizing committee for making the tournament a reality. He acknowledged the critical role of school administrators and teachers in encouraging participation, saying their support is helping to revive basketball culture in Mokokchung.
Reaffirming BAMD’s commitment to developing grassroots talent, he added that the association is ready to provide platforms for young athletes to sharpen their skills and chase opportunities at higher levels.
Tutu Jamir, Convenor of the Organizing Committee, chaired the programme, while Opangkokla presented a special number. Merenlong Aier, Coordinator of the Technical Team, led the players in an oath-taking ceremony. This was followed by team introductions to the special guest.
In recent past, Mokokchung was home to several basketball clubs that produced top-tier players who won accolades at the state level. However, the sport suffered a “timeout” after the only public court at Imkongmeren Sports Complex was removed in 2010 to make way for P. Shilu Ao Park. Limited access to private courts also stifled the game’s growth.
The formation of BAMD in 2020 and the inauguration of the new BAMD Court in 2022, built with support from the firm Nagaland Mines and Minerals, have been game-changers. With events like the ongoing inter-school tournament, basketball is bouncing back, as echoed by the DEO and BAMD president.