FIVE young local basketballers and two coaches have been selected to compete in the prestigious Australian Country Junior Basketball Cup, or ACJBC in short.
Each year, 60 teams and 700 players, coaches and officials from Victoria, New South Wales, South Australia, New Zealand and Tasmania in Under 13, Under 14, Under 16 and Under 18 age groups all compete to see who are the best up-and-coming athletes in the country.
It has been an exciting competition with the aim of helping regional athletes to play on a high-level competition.
Hamish Lawry and Archie O’Brien will be competing in the boys’ Under 14 age group, with Hamish playing with the Goldminers and Archie for the Bushrangers.
Ivy Patterson and Mia Hirst will be teammates in the girls’ Under 14 age group as they are both playing for the Emus.
Deacon Roberts is an Under 13 emergency player so there is every chance he could be called up into a side if the opportunity arises.
Tess Denham will be the head coach for the girls’ Under 14 Bushrangers side, while Sharon Denham will be assistant coach for the girls’ Under 16 Goldminers side.
Archie O’Brien’s side the Vic Bushrangers will be competing in Pool A of the Australian Country Junior Basketball Cup, and they will be taking on the likes of NSW Kookaburras, NSW Ospreys, NZ Kea, SA Magpies, Tasmania Devils and ACT Boys.
Hamish Lawry’s Vic Goldminers will be in Pool B and they will be taking on NSW Waratahs, NZ Weka, SA Sharks, SA Wombats, Tasmania Tigers and Vic Emus.
Ivy Patterson and Mia Hirst’s Emus will also be in Pool B taking on the same teams as the boys in Pool B.
Swan Hill Basketball Association administrator and girls’ Under 14 Bushrangers head coach Tess Denham said it would be a huge opportunity for all the athletes to hone their basketball skills.
“The kids representing Swan Hill will do a great job, it’s a great experience for the basketball pathway,” Denham said.
“These opportunities provide invaluable experience in elite development and high-level gameplay across ACJBC.
“It provides a spotlight for players from less populated areas, showcasing that talent and dedication can emerge from all corners of the country.”
This year, the ACJBC will be hosted in Albury at multiple complexes from the likes of Wodonga Sports and Leisure Centre, Wodonga Senior Secondary College, Wodonga Middle School, The Scots School and the well-known Lauren Jackson Sports Centre.
Denham praised the facilities that were chosen to host the prestigious competition.
“They have great facilities to be able to host the Australian Country Junior Basketball Cup,” she said.
The competition will be starting on January 14 and finishes on January 18.
