State juniors battle it out

ABOUT 1500 junior basketball players took to the court at the weekend for the regional high school championships.

Competitions were held in the South, North and North-West, and the top teams from each region and division will battle it out at a state competition in Launceston in two weeks.

Basketball Tasmania board member Scott Boucher said basketball was a popular sport in Tasmania.

“It's increased in popularity in the last few years to the point where at a competition level outside the schools we’re turning people away because of a lack of facilities,” Mr Boucher said.

He said the resurgence of the Hobart Chargers and Basketball Tasmania having a presence across the state had contributed to the sport’s increasing popularity.

The weekend’s games were split into two age groups: Years 7 and 8, and Years 9 and 10.

Mr Boucher said at the school level, about half of the players were girls. “It’s very close to 50-50,” he said.

In the South, about 50 teams took part in the weekend’s championships.

Sacred Heart College won the Year 7 and 8 boys and Year 9 and 10 girls competitions.

St Mary’s College won the Year 7 and 8 girls competition, and MacKillop Catholic College the Year 9 and 10 boys competition.