Knox, Dandenong players named in Vic Metro under 18 basketball team

Youngsters from across Melbourne’s east have earned the status as some of the best basketballers in the metropolitan region. See the team.

Basketball associations from Melbourne‘s east and southeastern suburbs have dominated the selections for Vic Metro in the upcoming national under 18 championships.

Knox leads the way with four players selected across the men‘s and women’s teams to compete at the upcoming event in Ballarat.

They include Austin Rapp, Carlin Briggs and Luke Fennell who have been selected in the men’s team.

Paige Burrows is the sole representative in the women’s side.

Knox's Austin Rapp and Luke Fennell. Photo: Basketball Victoria.

Knox Basketball’s director of coaching David Ingram said it was fantastic to see his club’s young guns earn selection.

“A lot of kids have done hard work in their driveways and backyards on their own in the past couple of years to get to this point,” he said.

“We’re proud of everyone who has earned selection and we feel for our players who have narrowly missed out on earning a place in the team.

“I think everyone is enjoying being back out on the court with their friends and we wish them all the best.”

The women’s team will be coached by Michael Brookens with promising juniors Amy Kurkowski (Sandringham) and Tabitha Betson (Bulleen) returning to the under 18s side for a second time.

The two Georgias from Dandenong — Taylor and Sewell — have also been named in the side.

“The strength of our team will be the 4 P’s; persistence, pressure, pace and physicality,” Brookens said.

“We will be a fiercely competitive side — this team is full of stars.”

Dandenong's Georgia Taylor and Georgia Sewell. Photo: Basketball Victoria.

Trevor Lee has been handed the reins of the men’s side for a fourth time.

The team will feature the experience of Ethan Bolton (Casey), Kristian Ferronato (Eltham), and Tristan Devers (Nunawading).

While fresh faces including Tiernan Stynes (Nunawading) are set to provide plenty of youthful energy.

“We’ve got some great athletes this year who can play in multiple positions – that’s probably our biggest strength,” Lee said.

“Ultimately we’ve got our eyes on one goal – coming back with a gold medal; that’s the ultimate goal and we want to bring it back home to Victoria where it belongs.”

UNDER 18 METRO WOMEN

Amy Kurkowski (Sandringham)

Dakota Crichton (Casey)

Edie Clarke (Melbourne)

Georgia McBean (Kilsyth)

Georgia Sewell (Dandenong)

Georgia Taylor (Dandenong)

Hannah Wickstrom (Sandringham)

Brayden Lucy Dexter (Casey)

Paige Burrows (Knox)

Tabitha Betson (Bulleen)

Emergencies: Evie King (Hawthorn), Isabella Stewart (Melbourne), Isla Airey (Sandringham), Lily Carmody (Bulleen), Madeline Potts (Nunawading), Sarah Portlock (Broadmeadows), Zoe Harvey (Frankston).

UNDER-18 METRO MEN

Archer McMenamin (Casey)

Austin Rapp (Knox)

Carlin Briggs (Knox)

Ethan Bolton (Casey)

Joel Foxwell (Bulleen)

Kristian Ferronato (Eltham)

Kynan Philippe (Frankston)

Luke Fennell (Knox)

Tiernan Stynes (Nunawading)

Tristan Devers (Nunawading)

Emergencies: Kiir Kuany (Coburg), Fraser Roxburgh (Knox), Jack Whitbourn (Melbourne), Jesse McIntosh (Hawthorn), Keyan Bongso (Melbourne), Patrick Carr (Diamond Valley).

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