Following a stellar showing at the long weekend’s Country Championships, Dubbo Basketball Association president Jodi Carrett feels it is an exciting time for the sport locally.
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The Dubbo Rams under 16s boys and under 14s girls both made the grand final of their respective divisions and while both went down in the final it was just one part of a successful weekend.
A number of the Rams junior sides impressed on the court while the support and unity shown off it was a personal highlight for Carrett.
The efforts at the Country Championships followed a hugely successful Western Junior League earlier this year while the men’s side has been making great strides in the Waratah State League.
“Our Friday night (local) competition is full and people are already talking about representative (competition) next year and this one has only just finished, Carrett said.
“State League is abuzz, the boys are going great there and I’ve said it before but there’s just a different feel about the club and we’re all really supporting each other.
“There was some boys who went to (Country Championships at) Terrigal from Newcastle just to watch and that was great. It’s all heading in a good direction.”
The efforts of the 16s boys and 14s girls were a real standout, with the latter particularly impressive.
The 16s, coached by Damien Reid and Ricky Medway, suffered a blow on the eve of the competition with two players pulling out but the six-man squad didn’t lose a match on the way to the decider.
Carrett stated all the conversations she had with the side’s coaching staff was the players stepped up in the absence of their teammates and helped Dubbo have a serious crack at the title.
The under 14 girls also made it to the final without losing a match while the under 14 boys impressed on the way to making the quarter-finals before being edged out by Illawarra.
“We’re really proud of them for getting that far and playing so well against sides from everywhere from Bateman’s Bay to up at Coffs,” Carrett said.
“We showed what we can do out here up on that stage.”
It wasn’t only players who starred, with 13-year-old Isla Toomey refereeing the grand final and semi in the under 14s while she was also contacted by Basketball NSW to referee at more upcoming tournaments.
Nick Guthrie
I started working at the Daily Liberal in 2013 and now hold the position of senior journalist. I cover all that's happening in sport in Dubbo and the wider western area and have a passion for doing so. If you've got a story that needs telling, reach out.
I started working at the Daily Liberal in 2013 and now hold the position of senior journalist. I cover all that's happening in sport in Dubbo and the wider western area and have a passion for doing so. If you've got a story that needs telling, reach out.
