Basketball star says competition is good.

Mersey Tigers basketball star Martin Calvos has backed a campaign to get more Knowsley children involved in competitive sport. 

Two local primary schools, St Laurence’s and Eastcroft Park, have been praised for their work in the project to develop team sports. 

In recognition, they  played an exhibition match of basketball at Knowsley Leisure and Culture Park before the Mersey Tigers played the Glasgow Rocks. 

Mersey Tigers train and play at the centre in Longview Drive in Huyton and their leading scorer Martin Calvos was impressed by the youngsters. 

He said: “I believe that to achieve their full potential in life young people need to experience competition. 

“Sport is a great way of enhancing qualities such as teamwork, discipline, determination and fair play. 

“Those qualities will help build their confidence and stand them in great stead throughout their lives.” 

St Laurence’s primary has been given a Gold Kitemark award for their work to develop competitive sport in the school. 

Eastcroft Park received a Silver award for their work on the campaign and came away with a 2 point win in the match against St Laurence’s. 

St Laurence’s head teacher, Paul Cronin said: “We’re developing a variety of ways to provide a lot more school sports for our pupils. 

“Both St Laurence’s and Eastcroft Park have had four weeks of basketball in the sports curriculum to give them a taste of something they might not otherwise try.”

Pictured: Mersey Tigers basketball star Martin Calvos congratulates Tayla Shelley, 11, from St Laurence’s on her school’s sports success.