DEMANDING PROGRAM FOR JUNIOR LAKERS
A large squad of Mount Gambier’s Junior Basketballers are currently working hard in preparation for three of the biggest Australia wide Junior Basketball events to be conducted in January 2014.
Eighteen Junior Lakers will compete in Under 14, 16 and 18 age groups of the 28th Australian Country Junior Basketball Cup in Albury from January 13th to 18th. Around 64 teams comprising more than 700 players, coaches and officials as well as another 1500 parents and supporters will converge on the border cities of Albury and Wodonga for this national event.
Western Australia Country, Tasmania and New Zealand join foundation members SA Country, Victoria Country and NSW Country for the 2014 Cup.
Mount Gambier representatives are
Under 14’s: Jordyn Adams, Madisyn Freeman, Olivia Patzel, Isabella Stratford and Mitchell Hunter.
Under 16’s: Tenille Gray, Brenna McKay, Mary Wilson, Zach deWit, Lachlan Hunter, Kurt Rodis and Emmerson White.
Under 18’s: Rachael Hines, Josh Jenner, Braiden Ousey, Brad Rathjen, Stephen Sochacki and Sam Stafford.
OLIVIA DUKALSKIS SELECTED IN SA COUNTRY UNDER 15 TEAM.
Talented athlete Olivia Dukalskis joins Lauren Ross as Mount Gambier’s representatives in the SA Country Under 15 team to compete in the 2014 Southern Cross Challenge, a Tournament involving Metropolitan and Country representative state teams from WA, Victoria, SA, NSW, Queensland, Act and Tasmania for Under 14 and 15 age groups.
Dukalskis was initially named reserve for the team but an injury and consequent withdrawal of a member has resulted in her deserved selection.
Promising junior Laker, Shaun Lock, is reserve for the SA Country Under 15 Boys’ team.
The Southern Cross Challenge, a Basketball Victoria initiative, will be hosted by the Knox Basketball Association at the State Basketball Centre, Wantirna South from January 17th to the 20th.
In 2013 340 players participated and the interest for the 2014 Challenge is such that the event has been expanded to 4 days in 2014.
Promising junior basketballer Emily Close will get her first taste of SA Country action when she competes in the Eltham/Dandenong Junior Tournament over the weekend of January 24th to 27th.This Junior Basketball Tournament, described by many as the biggest in the world, runs competitions for all age groups from Under 10’s through to Under 20’s.Eltham and Dandenong Basketball centres along with many other metropolitan stadiums will be the venues over the weekend.
A total of 956 teams competed in 2013 and it is expected that this number will be eclipsed in 2014.
Mount Gambier coaches Matt Markiewicz, Bryan Green and Trevor Semmens have positions with Country Cup teams. Markiewicz and Semmens are with the Under 14 teams while Green is a team coach of the Under 18 Sharks Boys.
Melissa Rathjen and Brianna Walters are members of the Mangers’ party for Albury. Melissa is Group Manager of the Under 14 and 16 Girls and Brianna is Manager of one of the Under 14 Girls’ teams.
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