Basketballers among elite

Seven under-14 Horsham Amateur Basketball Association players have won an invitation to a training camp for Victoria’s elite juniors.

Brodie Pope, Olivia Brilliant, Jessie Lakin, Ryan Pfitzner, Eloise Wills, Jude Kilpatrick and Ella Amos will be put through their paces at a Gold Nugget Camp at Shepparton from September 27 to 29.

Basketball Victoria Country participation co-ordinator Craig Hockley said the boys and girls would be out to impress as they vied for selection for the 2018 Australian Country Junior Basketball Cup and Southern Cross Basketball Challenge in January.

“The Gold Nugget Camp is one of the most important camps in Victoria Country’s basketball pathway,” he said.

“Up until this point, while numbers have reduced, they are still quite large.

“At this camp we get to the pointy end of the triangle very quickly.

“The camp has seen several athletes over the years step up and announce themselves and ultimately the opportunity to represent Vic Country at a national competition is a great motivating factor.”

Mr Hockley said the athletes had participated in BVC’S Regional Academy throughout winter and had made it through to the final selection.

The regional academy focuses on skill development through a 20-week program and includes two camps.

The Gold Nugget Camp also helps develop coaches looking to advance to the next level.

“The camp is a learning environment and coaches will be challenged as well,” Hockley said.

“It is all about providing the ground work to be successful or continue on the pathway.”