MOUNT Gambier has a strong representation at the Australian Country Basketball Cup this year, with the tournament contested in Albury.
The event – which started on Monday and will run until today – features 18 junior Lakers players, in its 33rd year.
SA Country is host of the 2019 Cup and as part of the opening ceremony Dan Stratford, formerly of Mount Gambier, read the coaches’ oath with Lyndee Frost, while Mount Gambier’s Emily Close teamed with Naracoorte’s Oscar Clarke to read the players’ oath and open the event.
Two bottom-age Lakers, Ollie Thomson and Jaidyn Lawrence are members of the Under 18 boys squads.
Thomson comes in following a solid and consistent performance as a member of the SA Country 2018 Under 16 state team, while Lawrence has had his persistence and hard work rewarded by the selection.
Former junior Laker Lewis Stratford is also a member of this squad.
Six Under 18 Lakers girls have been named in the country cup teams.
Close and Keryl Ousey continue on after representing SA Country at the 2018 Australian Under 18 Championships as first year players.
Emily Dawe and Sarah Nulty move up from the Under 16 nationals, while Claire Hunter and Mikaela Horrigan return to the state scene.
Mount Gambier is also strongly represented in the Under 15 and 16 boys squads.
Jake Walker and Josh Holmes move on from state Under 15’s to Under 16’s, while Noah Sims will make his first appearance in state colours in the Under 16 squad.
There are also local connections in the coaching of the Under 16’s, as former Mount Gambier coach Stratford takes on
the head duties, while Bryan Green will coach the Sharks in the age group.
For the Under 16 girls, Tara Bryant, Megan Reid and newcomer Sarah Ritter will all compete in the Country Cup.
Mackye Baron, Harry Wright and Paige Exelby will each experience state-level basketball for the first time as members of the SA Country Under 14 teams.
Looking ahead to tomorrow, six Lakers will compete in the 2019 Southern Cross Challenge, which kicks off tomorrow and will finish next Monday.
Four Lakers’ Boys will travel to Melbourne to represent SA Country.
Joel Bryant, Zach Nulty, Lochlan Thiele and Ben Young participated in the 2018 Country Cup in the Under 14’s, but will this year contest Under 15’s.
Mount Gambier Pioneers captain Tom Daly has been appointed assistant coach of the Sharks team of the age group.
The final two representatives are Alyssa Duncan and Rori Perryman, who are members of the victorious 2018 Country Cup Under 14 team.
They will play in the Southern Cross Challenge in the Under 15 teams.
REPRESENTATIVES
Australian Junior Country Basketball Cup: Jaidyn Lawrence, Oliver Thomson, Lewis Stratford, Mikaela Horrigan, Emily Dawe, Emily Close, Sarah Nulty, Claire Hunter, Keryl Ousey, Jake Walker,
Josh Holmes, Noah Sims, Sarah Ritter, Megan Reid, Tara Bryant, Harry Wright, Mackye Baron, Paige Exelby.
Southern Cross Challenge: Joel Bryant, Lochlan Thiele, Zach Nulty, Ben Young, Rori Perryman, Alyssa Duncan
