Basketball Australia U16 National Championships 2023 live blog – Day 5

‘There’s no off switch for the boards’. Denver Warry has a relentless desire to grab every rebound possible - and he’s not alone among his surging team. Read more in the U16 Nationals live blog.

There’s no off switch when Vic Metro powerhouse Denver Warry is on the basketball court.

Listed in the U16 National Championships program at 191cm, the Frankston teen appears far taller in person and that, coupled with a brute strength and a relentless desire to grab every rebound possible, make him a fearsome proposition for opposing teams.

One moment in Metro’s easy win over Queensland South epitomised his fearsome approach to the game.

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Up by 49 points with five minutes to go in the game, anyone could have been forgiven for taking the foot off the gas. Not Warry. He went to the offensive glass and, among three Queenslanders, ripped down the rebound to give his team an extra possession, before hitting the deck hard.

“There’s no off switch for the boards, we’ve got a philosophy, tag ups, so every time it’s up, it’s going to be mine at some point,” Warry said of his approach.

“We’ve got to go get boards and that’s for everyone and I think that’s how we blew them out, by crashing the glass.”

Denver Warry doesn’t hold back, no matter what the stage of the game is.

Warry is one of a number of key cogs in the highly-talented but very even Metro team that is undefeated through four games and has emerged as one of the red hot favourites to claim gold at this year’s championships in Perth.

Five Vics average 10 points or better and five grab four or more boards per game. He says that spread of contributors is a nightmare for opposition coaches because if they focus on stopping one player, the Metro team has so many others who can step up.

“It makes it hard for the scout,” he said.

“It’s a ‘me for we’ type thing at Vic and I think that’s what has really made us become 4-0 at the moment.”

Warry, after missing out on the nationals as a bottom-ager, is embracing his time in WA, averaging 16.5 points, 6.25 rebounds and shooting 55 per cent from the field.

“I got cut for bottom-age 16s last year, it was a tough moment for me but really made me realise what level this is,” he said.

“I got to work on things I didn’t think (about). (My) guard skills (and) shooting (have) both improved since last year and that’s a big learning curve.

“I just worked hard and I’m here now, which I’m really happy (about) and I’m going to make every opportunity count.”

Mum Roxanne’s the word for Denver “she’s my biggest supporter, I love her to bits” and it was under the guidance of veteran Frankston Blues and Vic nationals system coach Scotty Christiansen.

“Scotty took me in when I was in U14s and opened my eyes to all this Vic stuff and told me he can get me here. He’s just been instrumental to who I am,” Denver said.

“He’ll tell me straight up if I’m doing something wrong and if I can improve, and that’s how he’s done it with me.”

It’s easy to see why he looks to NBA star Giannis Antetokounmpo as an example. He’s well-spoken and has a quiet confidence, just like the Milwaukee Bucks MVP and champion.

Victoria Metro star Denver Warry.

“I do want to make this (basketball) a living and I feel like I can but, outside of it, I’m still finding my way,” he said.

As far as the tournament goes, he’s relished the dialled up physicality.

“It’s been different to your rep Friday night games,” he said.

“It’s a lot more physical - which I love. I love the physicality.

“Everyone here’s super talented, every team here is really good and, you know, don’t take anyone lightly.”

So what’s next for his Vic Metro team?

“It doesn’t stop here, 4-0, there’s still a lot of work to do,” he said.

“All the coaches have made that clear and every game it’s 0-0. We take this time, we celebrate, recover and then it’s on to the next team.”

NBL star drops in to catch up with young defensive disruptor

A surprise visitor in the form of NBL big man Gorjok Gak helped NSW Metro defensive disruptor Bol Diing walk a little taller at this week’s U16 National Championships.

Gak, who recently signed with the South East Melbourne Phoenix but is in WA playing for Willetton Tigers in NBL1 West, watched Bol grow up on the courts in Sydney and was at Warwick Stadium this week to sport the 15-year-old.

“I didn’t tell him I was coming, I just asked his older brother what time he was playing and I just showed up,” 211cm Gak said.

“I literally watched that kid grow from when he was super young, 8 or 9, playing with his older brother Aher.

“It was great to see him, he’s grown so much.”

Bol, a St Ignatius College, Riverview product, said Gak’s path to the NBL through the US high school and college system was inspiring.

Bol Diing is making a big impression in Perth.

“He’s pretty encouraging and it influences me to try to get where he’s at,” Bol said.

“I haven’t seen him for a long time. He was just telling me, just try your best, if you don’t get the result you want, just keep going.”

Defence has been Gak’s calling card in his time in the NBL with the Brisbane Bullets, so it’s high praise when he says Bol is one of the best defenders for his age that he has seen.

“I’ve never seen a kid who is 15 years old enjoy playing defence so much,” Gak said.

“He’s a defence-first guy, gets up, pressures guys up full court and his teammates feed off his energy.

“He’s a really good shooter and can get out in transition.

“He’s very quiet, just sticks to himself, but he’s a hard worker and he can go as far as he wants because, when you play defence like him, you can get on the court anywhere.”

Gorjok Gak shows off his defensive qualities.

Aside from his defensive chops, Bol strives to be unselfishness and making sacrifices to help his team win and he has a goal of playing pro ball.

Assistant coach Blake Macfarlane said his softly spoken gun is a “very motivated young man who plays the game the right way and off the court he’s very polite and respectful.”

The Metro team is 2-3 at the tournament so far and remains in a scrap to finish in the top four in Pool A.

Dad’s relief as young Tassie star keeps it in the family

When your sister is putting her hand up as one of the most-improved players in the WNBA and dad was an NBL 200-gamer, it’s only natural you’d choose a basketball path, right?

Not quite, in towering Tasmanian centre Andie Smith’s case.

The younger sibling of Olympian and Chicago Sky star Alanna Smith and daughter of former Hobart Devil Darren Smith had been lured to the netball court, spending 18 months out of basketball, before only recently deciding it was time to re-embrace the family pursuit.

Darren Smith and daughter Andie.

“It was a bit of a random decision to quit netball - I just decided I didn’t want to go to tryouts one day, and wanted to go back to basketball,” Andie said.

“It’s really great how my parents and my sister are into basketball, I get a lot of help with all that.”

Netball’s loss is now basketball’s gain, with the bottom-ager a key piece of the Tasmanian team at this year’s U16 National Championships.

Just 14, Andie is already 187cms and has telescopic limbs - “she’s like a spider out there”, Darren says. Dad’s 194cm, while Alanna stands 193cms, but Andie hopes she can top them both - she has plenty of time to grow.

So what’s it like having a big sister in the WNBA?

“A lot of pressure,” Andie laughs.

“But also, it’s good, because she’s got a lot of experience, so it can really help me because I want to get to that level as well.

Andie Smith has enjoyed a successful tournament.

“She knows what it’s like to do that, so it’s really helpful.”

Alanna steers clear of the advice but Andie says she gains confidence from her sister’s positivity and encouragement.

Dad’s got the guidance covered.

“He’s very helpful, we’re always talking about my game and he’s always got a piece of advice to help me get better,” Andie said.

Darren’s job, nowadays, is identifying talent and helping young hoopers and their families navigate the junior system and prepare them for futures in the sport as chief executive of Basketball Australia’s Pathways program.

But, in the bleachers at Warwick Stadium, 20 minutes outside of Perth where the nation’s best U16 ballers are doing battle, he’s just another dad watching his ‘little’ girl hoop.

As the Apple Isle kids take it to Queensland South, He’s calling plays, celebrating buckets, encouraging Andie to grab rebounds and having a laugh with the parochial Tassie supporters, who use neon green boom sticks to create a raucous atmosphere.

The 14-year-old stands at 187cm.

“I love the game and being able to enjoy it at another level, because your kids are now going around and getting the same enjoyment,” Darren said.

“Thank god, she’s chosen to come back to basketball. I mean, she can do whatever she wants, but the fact she’s chosen to re-engage with basketball is something we can share, which is a really big thing for me.

“She’s got a lot of potential, so it’s just a matter of trying to put the right processes in place and it’s up to her to put in the work.”

As dad watches on, Tassie falls just short of its first win of the tournament, going down 60-57 after a contentious out-of-bounds call with 49 seconds left. The ball appeared to be last touched by a South player, but it was eventually ruled a jump ball by the referees, the possession arrow pointing the Maroons’ way.

Guard Portia Chopping led the way with 19 and was fearless as the game went down to the wire, scoring seven of the last nine Tassie points, before just falling short on a last-gasp corner three that would have sent the game to overtime.

Andie crashed the glass with nine rebounds - she’s fourth at the tournament at 10 per game - but Tassie had no answer to emerging Queensland South starlet Olivia Olechenowicz, who lived at the free throw line, making 16 of her 18 attempts on her way to 28 points.

“We haven’t won any games yet but I’m really enjoying myself here, especially off the court - it’s just been so fun, especially with my team, they’re just a really great group of girls,” Andie said.

Alanna Smith is making waves in the US.

So what does Andie know about the old man’s game?

“He was all right,” she says, nonchalantly.

Darren: “They don’t care, mate.”

Andie: “He’s shown me some highlights.”

Darren: “I’ve got to remind them that I actually did play.”

“Alanna’s already had a lot more success than I ever did and I’m hoping Andie can do the same.”