Live stream: NSW Country girls aiming high at Basketball Australia U16 National Championships

NSW Country girls coach Michael Turton is intrigued to see his ‘talented group’ handle the spotlight of the Basketball Australia U16 nationals. See their campaign begin on Saturday, July 6 LIVE.

NSW Country girls are not to be underestimated at the U16 Basketball Australia Nationals in Bendigo this year, according to new coach Michael Turton.

Champions 26 years ago, NSW Country have endured a barren run in recent times, but Turton says the class of 2024 is loaded with potential.

“There’s a lot of talent across the group,” Turton said.

WHO’S HEADING TO BENDIGO FOR U16 CHAMPS?

“But it’s a different group, I suppose, than what people expected to be picked, so it’ll be interesting.”

All of the action from the Basketball Australia U16 Nationals will be available to stream LIVE and EXCLUSIVE on KommunityTV from July 6.

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Two players that are expected to be ones to watch this year are U14 club champions Addison Bonham and Taylah Curtis from Illawarra Hawks.

Bonham was a scoring machine at the 2023 championships in Casey, averaging 23.38 points per game, and has continued her stellar form for the Hawks in the Junior Premier League this season.

BA U16s National Champs HUB: Daily links, key info, full schedule

Curtis has similarly impressed as a big, with the two girls the only bottom-age players in the team.

“Everyone talks about Addison Bonham and that she was the leading scorer at last year’s 14 nationals,” said Turton.

“But it’s a huge step up in class for her going from 14 to 16.

NSW Country and NSW Metro tune up for the nationals.

“Taylah Curtis was on that national championship team and is also a really interesting player.

“She’s got a lot of skill with her, but really just gets on with the job.”

Only two players have returned from last year’s ninth-placed team, with Molly Coble and Alina Pasakarnis, both from Illawarra, expecting more game time this year.

Being a Country team, the girls come from as far away as Albury, Maitland and Dubbo, but Turton said despite the distance the girls have been gelling really well.

“They’ve been pretty focused in their prep,” Turton said.

“The culture of the group is really good, they’re a great bunch of girls and they really enjoy each other’s time.”