SWAN Hill’s youth remain victorious for another year after defeating a justice team made up of police officers and local service workers in the annual NAIDOC Week basketball match.
In a hotly contested affair, the youth side overcame the justice team’s strong start to triumph 57-53, thanks to some scintillating team-focused ball movement.
Event organiser and NAIDOC committee member Djallarna Hamilton said the youth teams had had the edge over the justice team since the event’s inception.
“The justice team are yet to win a game in almost 10 years of this match,” she said.
“Shannon Polglase and Conner Arif were playing their first match on the adult side.
“After winning so much for the youth team, they were adamant they had to play for the justice team and help us to a win.
“But they, and the rest of us, were no match for the up-and-comers we had here today.”
Leading Senior Constable Andrew Downes said the youth players “were just too good” again this year.
“It’s always a really competitive match, and today the youth have come out on top again,” he said.
“We should never underestimate the skills of youth in our community, and never play them down.
“Every young person in our community has some really great skills, and while they may be hidden down beneath the surface they’re always evolving and developing their prowess.”
Sen-Constable Downes said the match was a yearly highlight for local police.
“The justice team, made up of police and other services around town, always want to be a big part of this event for NAIDOC Week here in Swan Hill.
“It’s always a blast, and it’s also great to see the youth and the community in a different perspective as a Victoria Police member.
“Every year we see a very competitive match, and the local youth really love to show off their skills against us.”
With the youth taking on the team full of justice, corrections, Koori Court and local headspace workers, the opportunity for the two groups to meet is the main goal.
“One of the biggest things is simply having local youth and the justice and corrections workers interacting,” Ms Hamilton said.
“They’re interacting as part of something that isn’t just when a young person finds themselves on the wrong side of the law.
“It’s something fun for these children to take part in that isn’t something as strongly structured.
“The youth grow up watching and loving the sport, and it’s a great way to get them involved.”
Ms Hamilton said the day full of basketball was a great way for children of all ages to get active, social and enjoy the sport.
“Earlier we had the younger ones, or the ones who are just starting the sport taking part in some skills training before they got to play each other in round robins,” she said.
“The amount of growth we saw in these kids in just the day, it was huge.
“It’s such an important part of NAIDOC Week here in Swan Hill.”
