Former Essington co-captain Lachlan Shipway looking forward to playing with Ansett in a side with genuine title chance in DBA

STAR Ansett signing Lachlan Shipway admits it will feel different to play against Essington in the 2021 Darwin Basketball Championship after four years of putting his heart and soul into the Cannons club.The 21-year-old was co-captain of the men’s top-league team, but is now looking forward to playing for a side which should challenge for the title this year.

Former Essington co-captain Lachlan Shipway is now an Ansett player, and he will be a star forward/guard for the talent-laden outfit in the 2021 Men's Championship League season. Picture Katrina Bridgeford.

STAR Ansett signing Lachlan Shipway admits it will feel different to play against Essington in the 2021 Darwin Basketball Championship after four years of putting his heart and soul into the Cannons club.

The 21-year-old was co-captain of the men’s League team and coached the club’s under-18 side.

If that wasn’t enough, he also was playing-coach of Essington’s under-23 Junior League outfit.

But the opportunity to link up with one of his best mates Cam Duncan and play under Steve Toohey was too good to refuse.

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“I loved my four years at Essington and I thought we went OK last year in beating Ansett in the finals before losing to Tracy Village,” Shipway told the NT News.

“I loved my under-18s team and there’s no ill will in me leaving.

“The club has a lot of volunteers and is still a bit inexperienced while also trying to win games, so there are some teething issues.

“It hasn’t quite managed to attract the older, more experienced players which other clubs have.

“It will be great to play alongside one of my best mates Cam Duncan and someone like Matty Hunt at Ansett.

“Ansett’s got a big squad and I’m looking forward to the opportunity to train against some big bodies.”

There is no doubt Shipway – who averaged over 17 points per game last year – could excel in a bigger league down south.

But he currently has a fulltime role as a support officer with Basketball Australia, where he can work remotely from Darwin.

Former Essington co-captain Lachlan Shipway is looking forward to playing for new club Ansett in the 2021 Men's Championship League season. Picture: Katrina Bridgeford.

It is a job he enjoys after getting his start as an administration assistant with Darwin Basketball Association.

He also enjoys mentoring the next generation of star youth coming through in the Top End.

“I’ll take a step back (from coaching at Ansett) because that stuff can slow you down a bit,” Shipway said.

“But I do like to try and motivate people, especially with the laid back culture we have in Darwin.

“I love playing basketball but I’m happy to just stay here and be the best player I can be.

“I won’t say I’d like to dominate this season (with a shortage of imports who will play this year) but I believe I can use my bigger body well.”

And the star forward/guard won’t rule out travelling after the overall effect of the COVID-19 pandemic diminishes overseas.

Shipway played for Central Maine Community College Mustangs in the US in 2018, and before leaving said he was learning Spanish as he wanted to continue travelling the world and playing basketball.

“That (travel ambition) is still there, and I was lucky enough to play at the Mustangs alongside (Ansett star) Freddy Webb,” he said.

“Freddy is now very deserving of his spot in an NBL1 team (likely Mackay this year) with the amount of hard work he puts into his game.”

Shipway took on his former club for the first time in Round 2 of Junior League competition on Monday night.

And he was the game’s top-scorer, finishing with 22 points in Ansett’s big 85-28 win over the Cannons.

“It’s not weird. Maybe just a bit different wearing an Ansett uniform after four years at Essington,” Shipway said.

“But it is good fun playing with this Junior League team which has a lot of experience.”