Bill West
This week, Basketball Victoria selected four young stars from the Macedon Ranges in the 10-member Country Victoria Under 16s men’s team. This team will compete at the National Championships in Perth in July.
In any sport, it would be regarded as amazing to have four representatives in any state team from such a relatively small population area.
“We are really proud of their achievement,” stated Nick Lethbridge, the Woodend-based president of Macedon Ranges Basketball Association.
“It’s a tremendous effort for these four local basketballers to make the state Country team, especially when it’s considered they are up against young players from much larger areas including Geelong, Ballarat and Bendigo.”
The Macedon Ranges teenage stars are Finn McGinty, Sonny Maxwell, Samuel Haslett and Alex Gray.
“All their coaches, past and present, would be really pleased that all their hard work has paid off for these boys.
“It’s worth noting that they are not only great players, but great mates, both on and off the court,” Lethbridge said.
They also come from four different towns, namely Woodend, Lancefield, Macedon and Gisborne.
Individually, the young players have worked hard at basketball for quite some years. They strive for continual improvement.
They are very much appreciative of the support provided by their families, friends, coaches and fellow basketballers.
Initially they received a lot of help and support from local teams, the Gisborne Bulldogs and Woodend Hawks.
They also play each week for the Sunbury Jets, a representative team that competes against the best under 16 basketball teams across Victoria.
Like many sports, there have been ebbs and flows in popularity and participation levels across the years.
In the past two years, Macedon Ranges Basketball Association has been on an upward trajectory.
“We’re really excited about the progress being made in our region, and it will be even better when the multi-million sporting complex under construction at New Gisborne is completed and available for basketball,” Lethbridge commented.
“As the MRBA grows and expands our representative programs, we hope that these local boys can inspire the next group of players that will go on and represent Victoria,” the president added.
Who knows what the future holds? These Country Victorian teenage representatives may eventually wear Australian colours, and/or compete internationally. Remember Lindsay Gaze setting the courts alight?
