Live stream: Tassie talents step into ‘unknown’ at Basketball Australia U16 National Championships

For a state that has developed the likes of Jacob Furphy and Kye Savage in recent times, this year’s U16 Nationals represents a brand new beginning. Catch them in action LIVE from Saturday.

For 18 of the 20 Tasmanians who set foot on court in the under-16 national championships, it will be an exciting, but nerve-wracking, experience playing at that level for the first time.

But for two of the state’s leaders, they will be looking to use the experiences of last year’s tournament to help spearhead Tasmania’s boys and girls squads to strong results in Bendigo.

BA U16 NATIONALS HUB: All the info, full schedule, daily links

Girls skipper Matilda Neate and boys vice captain Harry Blyth, both from the north of the state, have an idea of what to expect.

All of the action from the tournament will be available to stream LIVE and EXCLUSIVE on KommunityTV from Saturday.

Check out the full LIVE STREAM draw below.

Basketball Tasmania development manager Nic Martin said it’s difficult to know what to anticipate as players debut on the national stage.

It was even the case when high-level talents Jacob Furphy, Lachlan Brewer and Kye Savage were coming through the system, before going on to help Tasmania win bronze at under-18 and under-20 level.

Oscar Turale and Harry Blyth will spearhead the Tassie boys campaign.

“It’s always an unknown and even back then we knew we had some good players, but you don’t really know until they play against the rest of the country,” Martin said.

“You might believe you have a good group, but until you go away and see what the level of competition is like, you just never really know.

“The 16s is the first national championships this cohort has played together. We know if we play good team basketball and play with that Tassie tenacity, we can compete with the other states.”

The 16s squads will be the first teams to wear the new Tasmania kits, which features Basketball Tasmania’s new Indigenous logo designed by Guy ‘Chalky’ Grey and his daughter, Chloe.

Martin described combo guard Neate as a natural leader after she was voted in by her teammates.

“Naturally she’s in a leadership role this year and will look to use those experiences of last year and help the group,” he said.

Basketball Tasmania's new Indigenous logo.

“She’ll have a large responsibility to set the tone for how that group will go about it with her leadership.

“It’s something that comes naturally to her, she’s quite good at that.”

Blyth is a guard who can play wing and is expected to be a focal point for the boys squad.

“He’s a versatile player, can play guard or on the wing a little bit. It’s a good opportunity for him to step up,” Martin said.

“Any chance you get to represent your state is a big deal. For 18 of the 20 athletes they’ll be making their debut at a nationals, and even for those two (Neate and Blyth) it will be a different experience to last year.”

The boys start their campaign against Victoria Country early Saturday evening, while the girls face WA Country on Sunday morning.

Harry Blyth and Matilda Neate are the only Tasmania players with under-16 nationals experience before this week's tournament. Picture: Basketball Tasmania

TASSIE SCHEDULE

BOYS

July 6 v Vic Country (5.15pm); July 7 v NSW Country (2pm); July 8 v Qld South (2pm), July 9 v SA Country (2pm); July 10 v WA Metro (2pm); July 11 v ACT (6pm)

GIRLS

July 7 v WA Country (10am); July 8 v Qld North (10am); July 9 v SA Metro (10am); July 10 v NT (10am); July 11 v Vic Country (10am); July 11 v NSW Country (6pm)

TASMANIA U16 GIRLS

Inika Barnes, Libby Buckby, Maya Davies, Sophie Dean, Elka Hutton, Taryn Lowe, Maddison Mayne, Brydee McPherson, Kirra Munns, Matilda Neate

TASMANIA U16 BOYS

Nash Armstrong, Ajay Blizzard, Harry Blyth, Liam Dolliver, Johnty Dynan, Lachie Mayes, Riley Powell, Oliver Rattray, Jacob Singline, Oscar Turale

Originally published as Live stream: Tassie talents step into ‘unknown’ at Basketball Australia U16 National Championships