Nunawading reflects on U14 Australian Club Championship success

Last week Nunawading claimed the U14 Australian Club Championships boys and girls titles and there’s no reason the Spectres can’t succeed on the national stage again.

Nunawading’s national success didn’t just happen overnight.

Last week, the Spectres claimed the Under 14 Australian Club Championship boys and girls double after a week of dominant displays.

The trophies marked the end of a remarkable 12 months for the Victorian basketball powerhouse with both sides not losing a game.

Not in the Victorian Junior Basketball League, at the National Junior Classic, at representative tournaments or on the national stage.

They wanted what they labelled the “triple crown” and got their hands on it.

Nunawading Basketball operations manager Paul Flynn said these teams hadn’t just been put together at the start of the season but in years prior with the national title front of mind.

Nunawading completed the first double since 2010. Photo: Basketball Australia

He was on hand to see the next generation of Spectres stars write their way into the history books.

Before last Friday’s success, only Dandenong (2003) and Melbourne (1988 and 2010) had done the double.

“Any time you are making selections you are planning for the future of your organisation,” he said.

“It was a fantastic effort by both teams to play so well throughout the week. To the players credit, they’ve all worked hard to develop individually and as a team.

“That’s been supported by some fantastic coaches who are committed to the development pathways in place. Historically Nunawading has had a strong reputation of being a strong program and that goes back to the people who were here before us.

“But you do need a bit of luck as well to have this type of success because you need players to stick around.”

Nunawading's offensive dominance couldn't be matched. Photo: Basketball Australia.

The Spectres rise to the top didn’t just start when they pulled on the Nunawading colours either.

Flynn paid credit to the club’s domestic program for helping these young guns reach their potential.

“We have a really strong domestic program which we’re able to draw from for our representative teams,” he said.

“But it’s not just about these teams who have had success. Our second, third and even lower grade teams have some outstanding players who can step up when they’re called upon.

“That’s down to the coaches committing to the philosophy we have to allow these kids to play basketball and get the best out of themselves.”

Nunawading produced a perfect week of basketball. Photo: Basketball Australia.

After the success of the boys’ team, coach Rick Vos made a big prediction about their futures.

“This is just the start of their basketball careers and that’s one of the most exciting things,” he said.

“There’s 12 players there who are going to have long careers.”

Girls coach Jaysn Harvey believed his side’s depth was eventually key in winning the title.

“One goes down we need the next step up and play exactly the same,” he said.

“That’s probably our strength over some of the other teams, we can just go which allows us to play up pressure defensively the whole time.”

Now there’s the possibility these national championships may find themselves playing in different teams next season as some prepare to move up an age group into the under 16s.

But the club is confident they’ll continue to be excellent players for years to come.

“We’re really strong in our under 16s so adding this group is going to be really exciting,” Flynn said.

Boys team: Nathan Hardcastle, Charlie Wilson, Joshua Dakic, Murphy Quinn, Tom Dammers, James Burgess, Ryda Devers, Cadell Van der Nol, Chandler Siegle, Romeo Cuberes, Xavier Phan, Oliver Maxa.

Girls team: Kalena Hogben, Valerija Ljubicic, Emma Anderson, Rebecca Jones, Marianela Fakalata, Nahala Toeleiu, Eliza Shanahan, Marli Hicks, Sienna Holt, Zoe Marshall, Elisa Stehbens, Cleo Barbakas.