Basketball Australia U18 Nationals, Kevin Coombs Cup live stream: Queensland South girls eye title (U18 & Kevin Coombs Nationals)

It’s been a long time between drinks for Queensland South girls at the U18 basketball nationals, but they have a few things in their favour this year. Don’t miss 119 games LIVE from April 8.

With the 2023 U18 National Championships fast approaching, NBL1 star Hilary Fuller is locked in on helping Queensland South break a 42-year title drought.

They came close last year when runners up to Victoria Metro in a thrilling finale, but the fact remains they are without gold since 1981.

Local rivals Queensland North are one of only four teams to have broken up the Victoria Metro/Victoria Country domination in that time when the Froling sisters - Keely and Alicia - inspired a 2013 title run..

One big advantage for the Queensland South side is having the tournament held on home soil.

The eight-day basketball extravaganza starts on Saturday, April 8 and is being held at the home of the Northside Wizards.

Thirty teams from across Australia will battle it out for national glory at the U18 nationals and Kevin Coombs Cup, with all 119 matches live streamed on KommunityTV.

SEE THE FULL TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE BELOW

Fuller, a Brisbane Capitals power forward who was a key member of the 2022 Queensland South U18 girls title challenge, says ‘physicality, versatility and cohesion’ are her team’s strengths going into the tournament.

“The team has been training since February, scrimmaging high level state league and NBL1 teams, helping our physicality and cohesion,” she said.

“We have a range of players who can play multiple positions on the floor making them hard to guard.

“It makes us a fast team and really good at pushing the ball in offensive transition.”

Hilary Fuller is an important player for Queensland.

Past experience playing together at Queensland and national levels has helped the girls establish a bond which has only strengthened their game tactics.

“There’s a really good bond between players since we have all played together before,” she said.

“We push each other and can be open to feedback from other players.

“There’s a mix of top and bottom age players and throughout the past weeks, everyone had been learning off each other and working hard by giving it 100 per cent.”

Fuller, herself, is set to be showstopper at the tournament and the next two weeks will be crucial in executing skills at training and getting ready to hit the big stage.

Queensland South star Hilary Fuller.

“The key will be locking in my outside shooting consistency and finishing around the basket,” she said.

“I’ve been working with my individual and NBL1 coaches on developing my outside game since last nationals,” she said.

With the competition fast approaching and teams getting ready to crack down, Fuller and her team know exactly what needs to be done.

“The focus from now on will be locking in on defence and making sure we are aggressive in every play,” she said.

“Defence is a massive part of Queensland’s identity and we want to make it as hard as possible for other teams,” she said.

“Our team has really good patches of defence but we just need to work on being consistent with that.”