We shine a light on the under-16 Toowoomba Mountaineers who starred at state championships

With the Toowoomba Mountaineers recently making their mark in the under-16 boys and girls state championships, we shine a light on the young Mountaineers who starred.

The Toowoomba Mountaineers under-16 girls squad celebrate a win.

The future stars of the Toowoomba Mountaineers program were on show recently in the under-16 state championships with the boys’ and girls’ teams doing the region proud.

The boys’ team, led by Mountaineers senior men’s coach Sean Connelly, were a force to be reckoned with and took home the bronze medal in their division.

While the girls’ side led by Mountaineers open women’s coach Matt Cox, finished sixth out of 12 in their division.

We have run the rule over the players who shone bright for the Mountaineers at the state championships.

Mountaineers under-16 boys

Lincoln Dempsey: Dempsey is a dynamic player who is elite at both ends of the floor. His incredible athletic ability was key for Toowoomba and he is one of the very few players in his division who can throw it down. Dempsey showed his class in the bronze medal game as he scored a solid 16 points to help the Mountaineers defeat Southern Districts.

Mikey Kisiel: Kisiel is an elite defender who draws countless charges by staying in front of his opponent and absorbing the contact at every opportunity.

Luka Folan: Folan is a dynamic lefty who is able to stretch the floor on the offensive end. He is quite versatile being able to put the ball on the floor and can catch and shoot at will.

Jaxon Salmi: Salmi is a quick and versatile elite defender. He is great at picking the pocket of his opponents before they even know its happened.

Connor Stanton: Stanton is a workhorse and an offensive dynamo. He is the piece everyone wants on their team and backs up his solid scoring with some strong defensive work. Stanton showed he has what it takes to perform on the big stage as was one of the Division’s leading pointscorers with 150 points.

Aguot (Michael) Kur: Kur is a talented player who shows flashes of brilliance at times. He has a nice shot and is great at putting the ball on the floor to attack the rim.

Oscar Smith: Smith is a force at both ends of the floor. He has a solid shot and can use his body well when playing off two feet when driving into the paint.

Kobe Guok: Guok is an exciting natural talent who is a lethal option close to the rim. He drives to the rim with aggression and is a great finisher in close. On the defensive end, his length makes him a tough customer for opponents.

Lincoln Quinlan: While he may be young, Quinlan already has the leadership attributes required to make himself a key guard moving forward. He controls the game’s tempo and makes sure all pieces are moving in the right direction. Quinlan was clutch in the bronze medal game as he scored a team-high 23 points to lead the Mountaineers to the medal.

Marcus Franklin: Franklin is a true coach’s player. He can play both ends of the floor and isn’t afraid of body contact. Sometimes he is too fast for his own good but is always learning as he progresses. On the offensive end, Franklin was one of the shining lights during the state championships as he scored 106 points across the competition.

Cooper Currie: Currie is a solid big man who is elite at playing off two feet. He is hard to stop when he gets close to the rim and can usually draw the foul.

The Toowoomba Mountaineers under-16 girls squad.

Mountaineers under-16 girls

Millie Natalier: Natalier is the heart and soul of the team. She has already established herself as one of the best players across the entire division and is set to be one to watch in future years at senior level. Natalier is a multidimensional scorer and facilitator who is the engine room to the team’s offence. Natalier was far and away the leading scorer in her division at the state championships as she scored an unbelievable 195 points.

Lara Yaxley: Yaxley is a bottom-age player with a great work ethic and grew as one of the most consistent players on the team. She is a great post target and threatened a double-double each game.

Victoria Cross: When Cross is at her best, she has unmatched talent and is a solid physical presence. She is a solid defender and rebounder and regularly drives to the rim.

Aleisha Stevens: Stevens was one of the most improved players in the team coming out of the championships. She has impressive length and an unrivalled sixth sense to read and pick off wayward passes.

Amelia Stevens: Another player who grew so much in confidence after the competition. Stevens is another of the younger players in the team but she is elite on all aspects of defence. Emmy Reimann: Another bottom-age star, Reimann has fantastic potential as a wing. She came into her own as a pressure defender as she used her speed and length, while her great corner jumpshot and slashing on her right hand to the rim made her an exciting offensive weapon.

Isabelle Sheedy: One of the best communicators on the court and is crucial to the culture of the team that every coach loves. Sheedy consistently boxes out and fights for extra possessions.

Krystal Timms: Timms is a great pressure and positional defender. She spaces the floor with her shooting and has a floater game. The point guard also showed her leadership abilities as she impressively controlled the floor.

Eden Burgess: Burgess is an effort player who plays full court defence, communicates very well and is fearless on the floor.

Carmen Crouch: Crouch is an exciting, athletic talent who has outstanding length and is the fastest player on the team. Throughout the championships, she always made the hustle plays and grew as a slashing offensive threat.

Steph Vagg: Vagg is a new bottom-age recruit from New South Wales and made a real difference to the team halfway through the season making a finals push. She has impressive handles, and is a quality all-round two-way threat.