Eight of the Mandurah Basketball Association’s (MBA) aspiring youngsters hit the court in Knox, Victoria last weekend to represent Western Australia at the Southern Cross Challenge.
Katie Duncan (14s girls), Kaitlyn Srhoj (14s girls), Sophia Bassett-Scarfe (14s girls), Ruby James (15s girls), Tori Ranson (15s girls), Felicity Gillett (15s girls), Mark Reigert (15s boys) and William Dimasi (15s boys) all donned WA Country’s black and gold jerseys for the carnival, helping the team to wins in each grade.
The challenge is used as a development pathway, exposing up and coming players to new levels outside of their local and state level competitions.
MBA operations manager Francine Nicol said the association was thrilled to see so many of its budding stars get the nod to play for Western Australia.
“To see the kids taking their game to new heights is what we’re all about so for us it’s really exciting to have them playing in a national competition,” she said.
“They’re all great kids who really love the sport, so they’re very deserving of their spots in the WA teams.”
The youngsters were joined in Victoria by the MBA’s own Clinton Joynes, who coached the under 14s boys state team, and Kaz Salter who went as team manager for the under 14s girls.
“I think getting so many MBA people over to something like the Southern Cross Challenge is a testament to how our junior and domestic pathways have developed,” Nicol said.
“Clinton is a great coach for our domestic and WABL competitions so to have him being picked to coach state teams is a credit to his hard work.”
For more information on the MBA visit their Facebook page.
Justin Rake
Sports journalist for the Mandurah Mail, Australian Community Media, Fairfax Media.
Sports journalist for the Mandurah Mail, Australian Community Media, Fairfax Media.
