Seventeen Mount Gambier junior basketballers will represent SA Country at national events and tournaments over the next few months. Two each of SA Country Under 14, 16 and 18 teams, boys and girls, will play in the 2012 Australian Country Junior Basketball cup in Albury in January 2012.

Four Lakers players, Tenille Gray, Brenna McKay, Michael Harris and Zach deWit have been selected in the SA Country Magpies and Sharks under 14 teams. Lachlan Hunter was named a reserve for this age group.

Under 16 junior Lakers Stephen Sochacki and Sam Stafford will travel to Albury as members of the SA Country teams.

Mount Gambier has three players in the Under 18 Men’s teams and four in the Women’s teams.

They are Matthew Parslow, Matthew Markiewicz, Jackson Trappett, Georgia Green, Samantha Loughhead, Malinda Markiewicz and Brianna Walters.

Four junior Lakers will travel to Port Macquarie in January 2012 as members of SA Country teams to compete in the Pacific Slam

They are Kane deWit and Ebony McDiarmid in the Under 17 teams. Brad Rathjen and Rachael Hines are members of the state Under 15 teams.

SA Country Under 14 Girls Head Coach and Basketball Mount Gambier Development Officer, Trevor Semmens congratulated the players on this achievement and encouraged them to prepare thoroughly for these events so that they can make the most of the opportunities that come their way at state level.