Juniors win selection

Nine Wimmera juniors are among 240 young basketballers selected for this year’s Basketball Victoria Country Jamboree.

The Jamboree is an annual under-12 event that teaches players the skills necessary to rise through the Basketball Victoria Country ranks.

Players were selected from annual under-12 skills days throughout country Victoria.

During the four-day competition in Echuca, players will be split into 24 separate teams, playing a series of matches against each other.

The Wimmera players picked for the Jamboree are Horsham Amateur Basketball Association girls Maddison Bethune, Milla Carter, Gemma Freijah and Cara Tippet; boys Micah Livingstone, Elijah Mckenzie, Levi Munyard and Ethan Worthy; and Ararat Basketball Association’s Samuel Wong.

Basketball Victoria Country general manager David Huxtable said being picked for the Jamboree was an excellent opportunity to gain experience in the BVC system.

“The Jamboree is one of the most exciting events on our calendar as we get to see the newest age group of country stars enter the pathway,” he said.

“Players and coaches alike emerge from the Jamboree with a plethora of new skills and make life-long friends throughout the state.

“It is an incredible opportunity that our best and brightest have earned through their elite work at the under-12 skills days.

“We encourage all players to take on this great opportunity to learn from a variety of new coaches, take on board the lessons, players and strategies from our best coaches and most of all enjoy every moment of the Jamboree.”

More than 1000 athletes participated at this year’s under-12 skills days – up from 820 in 2018.

This year’s Jamboree will be from Saturday, September 21 to Tuesday, September 24 at Echuca Basketball Stadium.