Kilsyth Basketball Association have had another successful lineup of players announced to represent the state in the Australian Under 18 Junior Championships and Kevin Coombs Cup later this year.
Former women’s wheelchair basketball player for Kilsyth, Isabel Martin has been named in the Kevin Coombs Cup team after her impressive Paralympic team debut in the 2020 Tokyo games.
Head coach Jason Bryant said even after lockdowns and restrictions he believes the side is ready to achieve big things in front of a home-state crowd in Ballarat in April.
“Our biggest strength has been our ability to put together a team with a good mix of experience with emerging next generation athletes,” Bryant said.
“We’ve developed a strong culture in the program and our group is hungry for the challenge of competing at the Kevin Coombs Cup in April.”
This will be the first time Byrant has been at the helm for the Kevin Coombs Cup, an experience he is looking forward to.
“The opportunity to work with a great group of athletes and coaches is something I always enjoy,” he said.
“The group has been working hard through a tough two years, giving the athletes the chance to build on the experience of the Kumon Country-Metro Challenge and take that to the next level at the Kevin Coombs Cup is definitely something to look forward to for me.”
Fellow Kilsyth player Georgia McBean has also been selected to play in the under 18 Victorian women’s team.
Michael Brookens will be returning as head coach for another Australian Junior Championships and said the team’s tenacity and energy has impressed him heading towards Ballarat.
“The strength of our team will be the 4 P’s; persistence, pressure, pace and physicality,” he said.
“We will be a fiercely competitive side – this team is full of stars.
“I’m looking forward to the journey with the players, coaches and their families. The kids are fantastic people.”
Brookens said during tryouts everyone gave it their all and it was such a high standard of basketball being played.
“With all that they have been through in the last two years I am looking forward to unleashing all that pent up energy to compete and represent their state. What they are capable of as a group has the potential to be special and that really excites me.”
