Hills Hornets under-14 boys qualify for inaugural 3x3 Hustle Nationals

3x3 basketball has been a focus for Hills Hornets since 2016. Now, with the sport set to make its Olympic debut next year, Hills has qualified for an inaugural 3x3 national competition.

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As the 2020 Olympics draws closer, a wave of new sport prepares to be thrust onto the world’s biggest stage.

Among the new additions to the Olympic ensemble — set to be introduced in Tokyo next year — is 3x3 basketball.

3x3 is a reduced version of the five-a-side game, which is played using only one hoop.

3x3 basketball rose to prominence with the creation of American hip-hop artist Ice Cube’s BIG3 competition in 2017. Picture: Gregory Shamus

Since it’s creation in the late 1980s, 3x3 has steadily grown in popularity worldwide and has run FIBA-endorsed World Championships biennially since 2012.

One of the clubs leading the charge for the reduced version of the game on home soil is Hills Hornets Basketball Association.

“3x3 is a big growing sport and we’ve been trying to generate some interest from the grassroots and local level for a few years now,” Hills Hornets development officer Zoe Burke said.

Andrei Honrada in action for Hills at the 3x3 Hustle state competition at Sydney Olympic Park. Picture: Geoff Tripp

“We ran our first tournament in 2016 and our last two events reached 65 teams.

“We’ve also run some training camps to help kids adapt to the new style.

“With 3x3 being an Olympic sport now as well, it’s a big focus for us at the moment.”

Hills’ efforts in growing 3x3 have already started to pay dividends.

Earlier this month, the club’s under-14 boys side qualified for the inaugural 3x3 Hustle Nationals competition following a stellar showing at the state titles at Sydney Olympic Park.

Hills Hornets under-14 3x3 Hustle state champions: (L-R) Andrei Honrada, Ashton Pahanel, Joshua Hill and Bailey Thom. Picture: Geoff Tripp

“This is new ground for 3x3,” Ms Burke said.

“The sport has never had a state or national competition before so it will be a new experience for the boys.

“But they took out state quite comfortably and we expect them to do well again.”