Live stream: NSW Country ready to make big impact at Australian Basketball Country Junior Cup

‘Part of our identity is we chip in and play the team game.’ It’s this character NSW Country hope to ride to Australian Country Junior Basketball championship success. See it LIVE from January 16.

They may have played second fiddle to Victoria in recent times, but NSW Country may just have found an edge in this year’s Australian Country Junior Basketball Cup.

The five-day event, which tips off on Tuesday at Albury and Wodonga, features the cream of the country’s junior country-based players from NSW, Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania in U14, U16 and U18 age groups.

KommunityTV will showcase one court of LIVE action from both venues for the first four days before the finals action switches to two courts from Albury.

Check out the full LIVE STREAM schedule below.

Albury’s Jade Crook is playing in the tournament.

Victoria swept the U16 and U18 boys and girls titles in 2023, but NSW Country high performance coach Macs Monk is ‘excited with the way we’ve got our teams playing at the moment.’

“We’re moving away from highlighting specific players and have more of an egalitarian approach, because we’ve found that helps with the players’ competitive edge.”

CATCH 50 GAMES FROM THE AUSTRALIAN JUNIOR COUNTRY CUP

NSW Country will be fielding 12 teams over the five days, two in each of the divisions.

Last year they were fighting for medals in each of the older age divisions, with the U18 boys just falling short to Victoria in the final, and Monk is confident they will do well again this year.

“Our U16 and U18 teams are the best 20 players country NSW has to offer,” Monk said.

“We’re usually always sitting around the top four in these competitions.

Charlie Whale is backing up this year.

Kira Juffermans is part of the NSW Country challenge.

“Victoria always does a really good job with their program and we always have a really healthy rivalry.”

NSW Country are full of future stars, including Albury Cougars/CoE’s Jade Crook (U18G) and Coffs Harbour’s Kira Juffermans (U16G), but Monk said a single player doesn’t win titles.

“Part of the identity of NSW Country is we all like to chip in and play the team game, both offensively and defensively,” he said.

“Our work ethic gives us an edge, as well as our ability to build up really resilient kids.

“That’s really ingrained in all NSW country athletes, we work hard and we pride ourselves on that.”

Originally published as Live stream: NSW Country ready to make big impact at Australian Basketball Country Junior Cup