Swain’s an All-Star
Basketball: CAIRNS Dolphin Shaneice Swain was this week selected in the All-Star five from the 2018 Under 16 State Championships. The Dolphins, who finished fourth overall, were led by their excitement machine in Swain. Swain dropped 18.14 points per game, including a competitionhigh 37 against Bundaberg. She did most of her damage when playing at pace and in transition, and when the Dolphins were firing, she was the engine. Swain was selected by a criteria that measured players’ impactful individual performances that supported team results, relative to the expectations of that team.
Kaslar steps up
AFL: CENTRALS Trinity Beach product Leah Kaslar will be the vice-captain for the Brisbane Lions in the second season of AFLW, which is set to kick off early next month. Kaslar will be second in charge as the Lions re-elected their inaugural captain Emma Zielke for the 2018 AFLW season. Zielke and Kaslar are two of six women in the Lions’ leadership group for 2018. “They’ve all got similar traits but they all bring their unique style to the leadership group,” Lions coach Craig Starcevich said. “The new ones they’ve elected in have been drivers of elite behaviour and our players respect that.” The team have a practice match against GWS in Sydney tomorrow. Zielke and Kaslar will lead the team out for their first AFLW game of 2018 in a grand final rematch against the Adelaide Crows on February 3.
Teen off and racing
Motorsport: MAREEBA youngster Liam Waters is heading south to compete in the Moto Stars 2018 series for junior motorcycle road racers. The training and race series is being run by former Australian MotoGP star Damian Cudlin to promote young Australian talent and provide a path into professional motorcycle racing. The 13-year-old is a member of the Far North Queensland Road Racing Club and the Road Racing Association of Townsville. He has only been racing for the 2017 season but has already shown a surprising talent for the sport. “The thing I love about racing road bikes is not only how much fun it is but all the friendly people I have met since I started,” Waters said. “My dream is to race MotoGP.” Waters is looking for local sponsorship for the 2018 season.