THE Swan Hill Flyers have again tasted success at the Junior Country Championships, with the Flyers under-14 girls team crowned Division 2 champions last weekend in Ballarat.
Having improved across the three-day tournament, the Flyers saved their best for the grand final, recording a 12-point win over Bellarine in the Division 2 decider, having earlier defeated the Bendigo Braves and the Traralgon T-Birds in the semi and quarter finals respectively.
Despite winning just one of their six qualifying matches, the under-14 girls team were competitive right across the weekend, with their a seven-point defeat to host club the Ballarat Miners their biggest loss of the weekend.
Swan Hill’s under-14’s girls coach Tess Denham couldn’t have been prouder of hers and the under -14 boys performances against some of the best players in country Victoria, telling The Guardian it was a “rewarding finish to their representative season”.
“It was such a great weekend and such a great finish for the girls, I was absolutely ecstatic for them,” Denham said.
“That was our last tournament for the season and the girls did a great job, they played against both Pakenham and Warragul, who both ended up playing in the Division 1 grand final and we only lost to them by seven and five points, which was pretty impressive and shows that we weren’t too far away from the top level.
“Its always rewarding winning a medal or a trophy to go with the season, but I think just seeing the girls and how excited they get when they achieve something big is great.
“We’re a small association from a small country town compared to some of the bigger associations we play against and I think that’s the most rewarding thing as a coach.
“I couldn’t been happier or more proud of the girls, some of them had never experienced success like this before at this level of basketball and it was great to see them play at such a high level as well.”
After winning their first two matches against Traralgon and Myrtleford, Swan Hill’s unde-14 boys team were unable to maintain their form, losing their next five matches against incredibly strong opposition, including their quarter Division 2 quarter final against Southern Peninsula.
The under-14 teams won’t be the only Flyers representatives over the school holiday period, with the Flyers under-12 boys and girls teams taking part in the Junior Country Championships in Bendigo this weekend.
Despite having tough draws in both the boys and girls fixtures, Denham is confident the youngest Flyers will continue punching above their weight like their older counterparts.
“I think we will perform well over the weekend, especially considering we will be up against some really tough competition,” Denham said.
“The under-12 girls will have a very tough opening day against Traralgon and Ballarat, which will be a big test for the girls, but the focus really is on development and not on winning.
“These tournaments are all about the individuals development and giving kids the opportunity to play a higher level and playing against the tougher teams and associations means they will only get better and their basketball will only improve.”
Swan Hill Flyers Under-14 Girls
Rubi Kelly, Scarlett Free, Isabel Free, Ivy Patterson, Mia Hirst, Ivy Patterson, Stella Scott, Lily Nalder, Piper Frame, Asha Neuschafer, Willow Vearing. Head coach: Tess Denham, assistant coach – Renee Hirst, team manager – Jaco Van Coller
Swan Hill Flyers Under-14 Boys
Lucas Pay, Deacon Roberts, Hamish Lawry, Archie O’Brien, Dayne Purcell, Mityen McInnes, Vann Neuschafer, Henry O’Bryan, Will O’Bryan. Head coach – Ash Roberts, assistant coach – Blake Anderson, team manager – Dan O’Bryan.
Swan Hill Flyers Under-12 Girls
Charlotte Lawry, Nylah Kliemt, Amelia Templar, Eva Rogers, Arlee Parsons, Willow Cadd, Olivia Best, Thea Templeton, Sailor Spong. Head coach – Teagan Lawry, team manager – Deb Parsons.
Swan Hill Flyers Under-12 Boys
Rafael Foott, Wilhem Foott, Finn Frame, O’Sullivan, George Muir, Harrison Brown, Max Fielder, Hamish Pay, Harry Grayling. Head coach – Hugh Foott, team manager – Kate Fielder.
