Gabi Herbert can't wait to see what the future holds for the Dubbo Rams under 12s after seeing the side become state champions on the weekend.
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The Dubbo girls showcased a huge amount of potential when dominating the Basketball NSW State Cup finals series at Minto.
The Rams won four successive games and did so in style, with no team getting within 20 points of the Dubbo outfit.
"We knew they'd give it a good go and play their best but after they won the first game by 40 we kind of looked at each other," coach Herbert said.
"Then they won the second and we thought 'we might win this' and then won the third and we were in the grand final.
"We just told them before the grand final it's the last game of the season, leave nothing in the tank, and go out and show what you can do.
"And then they wiped the floor with them, really."
The clinical Rams won the grand final against Queanbeyan 57-24 in what was the closest game of the weekend.
They had earlier beaten Hills 55-14, Sutherland 44-16, and Tamworth 57-14.
"It was a bit of a surprise. We didn't know what the other sides or competition would be like," Herbert said.
"The girls were ecstatic and so excited. We're just beyond proud of them and what they've achieved."
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Making the results all the more impressive is the fact the bulk of the side has another season in the under 12s.
Only three players - including the weekend's Most Valuable Player Millie Sutcliffe - will move up to the under 14s next season.
Herbert has been assistant coach to Claire Hargreaves for a number of years and has seen the players grow with each match, and she's adamant there's a lot more development ahead of them yet.
"They're not at their full potential yet," Herbert said.
"We know what they've got left in the tank."
The Rams have relied on a real team effort this season but Sutcliffe has starred from the early rounds of the Western Junior League, through to the Country Championships, and then again on the weekend.
"Every time she delivers," Herbert said.
"Her and Kiara (McKeown) work so well together inside and she just knows what to do.
"She will keep going on in leaps and bounds."
Hargreaves was unable to make the finals having recently given birth to a baby boy, but Herbert said there were Facetime calls made before and after the decider, with some tears also flowing following the cup win.
"I've definitely got to pay homage to Claire," Herbert said.
"She's worked so hard with the younger players and five or six years ago there was none of this.
"I remember back when I was a junior there was no real support for junior players and now we've got under 10s and under 12s competition and there's six and seven-year-olds wanting to come up and play and it's really, really good to see how far it's come."
The weekend's title win is proof of the progress made in recent years but Herbert said it's not all down to the structure and coaching in place, with the juniors proving incredibly willing to learn and develop their game.
"You can't ask for more," Herbert said.
"They're very coachable. You give them them a job and they go and do it.
"You don't have to ask twice and that's a credit to their parents, the kids are so willing to go out there and have fun while doing it."