Slip could cost Olympia
THE boom in three-on-three basketball shows no signs of slowing with Basketball Tasmania holding its first of three 3x3 Big Hustle Tournaments this weekend.
Despite most junior rosters entering finals for their normal competitions, more than 70 teams and 300 participants will flood the Kingborough Sports Stadium for two days of action — with more than just bragging rights on the line for the division one pools.
The winners of each top-tier division will qualify for the 3x3 Big Hustle Nationals in Geelong next year, adding more incentive for the players.
Interest in 3x3 basketball has boomed since being added to the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, with Australia’s elite level teams recently returning from the World Cup in China.
The women’s team was beaten in the bronze medal playoff by France, while the men’s outfit — containing former Hobart Charger Tom Wright — was unable to progress out of their pool.
“Three-on-three seems to have captured a lot of the landscape, with kids in particular,” basketball stalwart Anthony Stewart said. “We had huge numbers in Launceston at the last hustle and once again even though there is so much basketball going on … we have over 75 teams ranging from under-11s through to over-45s.”
The 10-minute games, which always provide a flurry of action, begin from 9.30am this morning with finals to take place tomorrow afternoon. Check out the
mega gallery from the weekend in Monday’s newspaper. OLYMPIA could be docked three NPL Tas points after Football Tasmania confirmed the second-placed Warriors were found to have fielded an ineligible player in their win last week.
Football Tasmania said the Warriors — who are appealing the sanctions — fielded Lucas Hill, who had accumulated five yellow cards during the season and as such was ineligible to play, against South Hobart last Friday. Olympia won the game 3-1 to set up a crucial top-ofthe-table clash with Devonport at Valley Road today.
In a statement, Football Tasmania said after an investigation of the matter, including consideration of a written submission by Olympia, it would apply the following sanctions: THE match will be deemed a forfeit, with a 3-0 win to South applied, and Olympia will be fined $200. OLYMPIA has the right to appeal the sanctions to an independent tribunal, and the club has advised Football Tasmania it will be exercising that right.
Football Tasmania said the sanctions would therefore be applied once the matter has been heard and a decision made by the tribunal.
With seven NPL Tasmania rounds to play, Devonport and Olympia sit level on points, but the Strikers — who have a game in hand — top the ladder on goal difference. Olympia coach Rob Clarke said he was “naturally” disappointed with the situation, but could not comment much further as the matter was under appeal.
“It’s disappointing for my players because they work very hard for a long time and it’s completely out of their hands, it’s nothing to do with them,” Clarke said. “They’re the ones I feel the most for.
“The only thing I would say is that if other clubs or other people out there think that we would play Lucas knowing he had five yellow cards, well that’s just ridiculous.”
Olympia general manager Sarah Black said the club was made aware of the incident by Football Tasmania on Monday night. “We’ll just wait to hear from FT on the process of [the appeal], and we’ll go from there,” Black said.
Football Tasmania said it will make no further commeuntil after the appeals process.