Potter excels in national cup win
Horsham’s Rani Potter has been impressing at the next level of her sport, recently winning the Australian Country Junior Basketball Cup with the Vic Goldminers.
Fellow Horsham Hornets prospects Ruby Bethune, also playing in under-14 competition but with Victorian team Bushrangers, and Levi Munyard, competing at under-18 level for the Goldminers, joined her at the tournament.
Rani’s mother Jodi Bigmore said her daughter’s path to the state team began at tryouts for a regional coaching program, with other western region players from Warrnambool, Portland, Horsham and Hamilton.
Ms Bigmore said another skills day followed in Ballarat, before Rani was selected for the Goldminers’ tournament squad.
“They picked the first 20 from that to go to the Southern Cross challenge, which is the metro tournament, and the second 20 went to the Australian Junior championships,” she said.
“Rani made the Goldminers team and Ruby made the Bushrangers.”
Rani, 13, said she had previously played in a jamboree in 2022 at under-12 state level, but the Albury-wodonga tournament was the first time she had played at an interstate competition.
“It was definitely more intense and professional than the jamboree,” she said.
“This time we had recovery pools, stretching and foam-rolling in between games, as well as team meetings.”
Rani said it came as a surprise to win the tournament, defeating the SA Magpies 43-41 in the final.
“I actually thought our team wasn’t as strong. At the skills day, the Bushrangers smashed us – but after we played our first game and lost, we started to play as a team,” she said.
“I was pretty happy with how I played – I got better as it went on and took on the coach’s feedback.”
Rani was the Goldminers’ top-scorer for the tournament with 78 points, including 30 field goals made and 12 free throws, playing as a scoring point guard.
She said she had been selected to play for the Nunawading Spectres in the Victorian Junior Basketball League system – the Melbournebased competition is the premier pathway program for juniors in the state.
Ms Bigmore said Gail Macfarlane, who coached Rani at the tournament, was also associated with Nunawading, while Horsham Hornets stalwart Owen Hughan had his own connection to the club.
Rani said she was recently asked during an interview with coaches where she wanted to take her basketball, and replied she really cared about the sport.
“I just enjoy playing, I can’t get sick of it,” she said.
Ruby, playing for the Bushrangers, averaged 4.88 points across eight matches at the tournament.
Levi scored 52 points for the Goldminers throughout the competition.
He was most recently selected as an emergency for Victoria Country’s National Championships under-18 squad, which is playing in Brisbane from April 7 to 14.