Wodonga's Alannah and Meg Foley to compete at Junior Country Champs (Country Championships Under 18 & Under 16)

Two Wodonga sisters who are the nieces of a former Australian basketball and AFLW star are set to light up the Basketball Victorian Junior Country Championships.

Meg and Alannah Foley from Wodonga are the nieces of former Opal Jess. Picture: Simon Dallinger

They have the pedigree to match it with the best, but these two sisters are ready to make their own name on the court.

Wodonga duo Alannah, 16, and Meg Foley, 13, come from a proud basketball family with aunt Jess a mainstay of the Australian Opals side before making a late sporting switch to the AFLW.

Jess spent four years with US college powerhouse Duke before she was drafted into the WNBA by the Indiana Fever in 2006.

The Foley sisters are ready to take centre court this weekend as their Wodonga Wolves aim for glory at the Basketball Victoria Country Championships.

WATCH THE COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS LIVE FROM 9AM SATURDAY

The sisters will play in the under 18s (Alannah) and under 16s (Meg) teams throughout the weekend as they chase regional glory against the best players regional Victoria has to offer.

Wodonga Basketball’s representative co-ordinator Nic Conway said the Foley sisters would both play as guards but offered different styles on the court.

He described Alannah as “lightning quick” and a player who loves to up the tempo with her team on offence.

“Alannah has been in our program since she was bottom aged under 12s so it has been terrific to watch her development,” he said.

“I’ve previously coached her and she is someone is always willing to learn. She highlights the best part of junior basketball which is someone who is extremely coachable and a player you want to have around the team.

“On the court, she’s got a terrific outside shot but her biggest strength is her ability to get to the basket and earn free throws.”

Meg and Alannah Foley will take to the court for Wodonga. Picture: Simon Dallinger

Compared to her sister, Meg is someone who enjoys dictating the tempo of the game knowing when to speed up or slow down play.

“We’ve been really impressed with Meg’s rapid development in the past 12 months,” Conway said.

“She’s been aided by a growth spurt which has really helped with her skills along the way.”

The Foley sisters won’t be the only athletes with famous relatives to hit the court this weekend.

Wodonga’s under 16s boys team will feature Harry Dean, the son of former Carlton defender Peter who played 248 games for the Blues.

Harry is considered to be a strong defensive talent who can consistently disrupt the opposition’s flow on offence.

“We’re fortunate to have a lot of talented players in our ranks,” Conway said.

“Wodonga has had a strong representative program for a number of years and by having the chance to play in seven tournaments a year our kids are improving all the time.”

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