COFFS Harbour’s best junior basketballers have spent their school holidays improving their skills in the best junior development league in NSW.

The Coffs Harbour Basketball Association players took part in the Basketball NSW Development League events held in Penrith over a number of weekends this month.

The Coffs Harbour players were selected at trials held in 2021 and showcased their skills in Penrith.

Coffs Harbour Basketball Association also had its own coaches take part in the event.

Elliot Platter, Andrew Williams, Felicity Cook and Justin Baldwin participated in coach education throughout the tournament with group discussions and a coaches clinics put on by Basketball NSW, while also coaching their own team in the event.

Coffs Harbour Basketball Association coach Felicity Cook explained to News Of The Area the concept of the Development League event.

“Top prospects in NSW in their age groups (20 players) are selected from country areas, and 20 players in each age group from metro areas and they play a tournament,” she said.

“The focus is not about winning, but rather working on new skills and understanding of the game and playing hard.

“Players will play with people they may not have played with before and have coaches and instructions they may not have had before as well, and it’s important they take on all feedback and try to apply it to their game.”

Cook was proud of the way the Coffs Harbour players competed in Penrith.

“Lots of players haven’t played at this high level in quite some time due to the pandemic putting stops to a variety of state wide competitions, so it was great to see players challenging each other and putting their best foot forward,” she said.

“The only way to get better is to play against the best and to play hard.

“Our Coffs Harbour Basketball Association athletes should be proud of the way they competed and represented on and off the court.”

Coffs Harbour Basketball Association players who were selected for the Basketball NSW D League events: U18s: Clair Crampton, Kira Williams. U17s: Indi Baldwin. U16s: Charlotte Cougle, Charlize Morrison, Alexis Plater. U15s: Josh Boyle Jr, Tully Jarvis, Kira Juffermans, Brock McMaster. U14s: Annalise Crawley, Maddie Potter, Korede Olutayo.

 

By Aiden BURGESS