Four local Strathalbyn coaches will take up State positions later this year after being announced in SA Country’s 2012 State Announcement.

 

The SA Country announcement places coaches in positions for the 2012 Albury-held Australian Junior Basketball Country Cup and the Port Macquarie Pacific Coast Slam.

 

James Murphy, Mark Billington, Darcy Springhall and Lisa Millard will all make the trip to Albury in January of 2012 to contest the Country Cup.

 

“It is a great result for the Strathalbyn District to have four of our coaches involved in the SA Country State Program,” Murphy said.

 

The four coaches are all involved with the Strathalbyn Development Network Squad Program that runs on a Monday night at the Strathalbyn stadium.

 

Murphy will attend his seventh Country Cup as an U18 boys coach, Billington will attend his second Cup as an U16 boys coach, Millard will also attend her second Cup as a coach with the U16 girls and Springhall will make his Albury debut with the U14 boys.

 

Strathalbyn enjoyed a record number of State athletes at the beginning of 2011 when 13 local athletes made respective SA Country teams.

 

“2011 has been a great year for the Strathalbyn Association on a State level with a large number of our athletes making Albury or Port Maquarie and further to that we have had three athletes go on to make National teams,” Murphy said.

 

“The last two weeks have really capped of a brilliant year with former Storm player Peter Hooley moving to America and beginning a US College Career and now this State Announcement.

 

“It certainly is encouraging for the local association, the Storm program and our DNSP system and I can’t wait to get into the new Storm season and discover the next SA Country or even US College player.”