Australian Country Junior Basketball Cup: Meet Tassie young stars
Tasmania’s best young basketballers are set to test themselves on the national stage in two huge tournaments this week. Meet the young guns representing the state.
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Basketball Tasmania basketball development manager Nic Martin says this month is the perfect platform for the state’s talent to blossom.
Starting on Tuesday, the state will send some of its best junior talents to Victoria for high level competitions against the best players from across Australia.
It will all start with the Australian Country Junior Basketball Cup where more than 600 junior players will be in action.
There will be 12 Tassie teams in action throughout the under-14 to 18 boys and girls competition.
“Our focus for these January tournaments is probably twofold,” Martin said.
“The first part is, it’s all about development and getting experience to play some pretty high level games play against some tough opposition.
“That’s a good thing because the more we do it, it can help set up athletes for future tournaments like National Championships for example.
“The second part is all about the fun and enjoyment. There’s the on court component of developing these players but we want the kids to enjoy themselves.
“They’re going away with their mates and playing basketball, it’s a fantastic experience on and off the court.”
Martin said one of the key goals for this week’s tournament will be ensuring players get as much opportunity as possible.
“Our KPIs are generally wins and losses.
“It’s more about how do the groups track and how do they progress throughout the week.
“It’s important for us to get exposure for our players. Each region of the state is represented strongly.”
Tasmania will also send two under-15 teams to the Southern Cross Challenge starting later this week.
The tournament involves some of the brightest young talents from Victoria, New South Wales, South Australia, Western Australia and Queensland in Melbourne.
SELECTED SQUADS
U14 Boys Tasmania Devils
Head coach: James Nadler
Manager: Adam Morrison
Tage Barr
William Belcher
Jake Chivers
Nate Costello
William Hortle
Zachary Kooistra
Archie McGregor
Mason McKellar
Lachlan Vince
Nixon Weily
U14 Boys Tasmania Tigers
Head coach: Matt Sturzaker
Manager: Aaron Davey
Chase Bramich
Baxter Crombie
Vincent Davey
Albie de Gooyer
Wyl Garwood
Ira Radford
Lennon Reynolds-Hamisi
Que Sturzaker
Cruize Taylor
Tex Walkers
U14 Girls Tasmania Devils
Head coach: Shak Bone
Manager: Mel Scharvi
Ellisa Aleksa
Evie Baker
Milla Blyth
Marli Horton
Charli Jarman
Maya Mitchell
Sophia Peebles
Bethany Scharvi
Maddison Smith
Jaga Thorp
U14 Girls Tasmania Tigers
Head coach: Christine Rumley
Manager: Jan Curran
Mackayla Cornish
Lucy Curran
Eliza Davie
Indi Dodd
Milla Finch
Mackenzie Grainger
Shayli John
Macy Poke
Tayla Smith
Isabel Williamson
U16 Boys Tasmania Devils
Head coach: Sam Pulford
Manager: Stacey Benson
Nash Benson
Jye Cobbing
Thomas Davie
Johnty Dynan
Darcy Hickey
Ryan Lamprey
Jonathan Lenga
Floyd Luttrell
Noah Philpott
Khobe Speed
U16 Boys Tasmania Tigers
Head coach: Jason Baker
Manager: Suzanne Chapple
Cooper Baker
Oscar Blyth
Ethan Chapple
Harry Evans
Cale Hammersley
Hugh Murray
Kasper Plummer
Riley Powell
Cooper Smith
Kaelan Thomas
U16 Boys Tasmania Tigers
Head coach: Jason Baker
Manager: Suzanne Chapple
Cooper Baker
Oscar Blyth
Ethan Chapple
Harry Evans
Cale Hammersley
Hugh Murray
Kasper Plummer
Riley Powell
Cooper Smith
Kaelan Thomas
U16 Girls Tasmania Tigers
Head coach: Ben Neate
Manager: Shellie Wilton
Willow Farr
Stephanie Gardner
Amy Glover
Elliot Jordan-Gossage
Brydee McPherson
Layla Oliver
Elizabeth Rumley
Lacey Webb
Aloka William
Jewel Wynwood
U18 Boys Tasmania Devils
Head coach: Stu Rattray
Manager: Sonia Ling
Ajay Blizzard
Connor Byers
Joshua Donato
Alex Lamprey
Mason Ling
Jordan Powell
Ryan De Bomford
Tom Ryan
Dexter Upton
Hamish van de Kamp
U18 Boys Tasmania Tigers
Head coach: Rhys Crennan
Manager: Caleb Turale
Nash Armstrong
Harry Blyth
Declan Cock
Jay Jordan-Gossage
Luke McCoy
Sam Percival
Oscar Richards
Jack Smith
Oscar Turale
Campbell Waterhouse
U18 Girls Tasmania Devils
Head coach:Rushton Upton
Manager: Teagan Walkley
Inika Barnes
Harriet Close
Maya Davies
Isobel Geard
Zoe Walkley
Matilda Neate
Nikki Parker
Chloe Waldron
Bailie Wickham
Alinta Wilson
U18 Girls Tasmania Tigers
Head coach: Dane Williams
Manager: Sarah Quarrell
Portia Chopping
Olivia Gardner
Keona Hayes
Ella Lee
Lucy Walker
Chelsea Quarrell
Sophie Ryan
Eva Schulze
Jasmine Graham
Kirra Munns
SOUTHERN CROSS CHALLENGE TEAMS
U15 Boys Tasmania Kangaroos
Head coach: Daniel Jenson
Assistant coach: Ben Pugh
Manager: Brooke Williams
Hudson Bain
Greyson Boxhall
Austen Freeland
Wade Groom
Sullivan McQuestin
Colby Prewer
Oliver Rolls
Aston Thomas-Buckley
Noah Walker
Pacey Williams
U15 Girls Tasmania Kangaroos
Head coach: Rebecca Triffett
Assistant coach: Chloe Heather
Manager: Malinda Embrey
Eliza Boucher
Clementine Dell
Abbie Hanson
Violett Hughes
Bronte Krapf
Ever McGaffin
Chloe Neate
Halo Schulz
Ellie Schulze
Lily Tomlin