BASKETBALL competitions at Saxby’s Stadium in Taree may be in recess for the school holidays but the energy and enthusiasm levels were high at the two day Bruton Basketball Clinic conducted here earlier in the week.
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The clinic ran from 9am to 5pm both days and all participants enjoyed the drills and skills and went home very weary after a total of 12 hours on court but happy in the knowledge they will be better equipped with the fundamental skills of the game.
Cal Bruton came to Australia in 1979 as an American import for the Brisbane Bullets in the inaugural year of the National Basketball League and changed the face of the game at the highest level as both a player and coach.
He is now conducting Bruton Basketball Clinics across the nation to pass on his knowledge of and enthusiasm for the game to the next generation of young players.
He is a good friend of Taree Basketball and thanks are extended to him for returning to the Manning Valley where his venture into fundamental skills clinics all started with his initial visit in September 2014.
Holiday time is a busy time in basketball development and young players wishing to take their game to the next level have the opportunity to attend NSW Country Basketball Development Camps for a shot at selection to the 2017 Country tour teams.
Several of the current crop of young Taree Tornadoes players are doing just that by taking the long trek to the Illawarra district to take part in the U16 and U18 age divisions from today until Monday.
U16 players, Jack Scott and Fergus Sweeney, along with older counterparts, Izaak Lavandero, Cameron Wendell and Adam Koch in the U18 age group will be working hard against elite talent from across Country NSW in an effort to gain selection to either the Australian Junior Country Cup in Albury or the Country Development Tour in Newcastle with both events to be played in January next year.
When school resumes after the holidays, the very popular Saturday competitions will fire up for children from kindergarten to year 10 with Saturday, October 15 set as the first day. Nominations close on Thursday, October 13 and as that is the first Thursday back after the school holidays now is the time to do some planning to ensure participation as spaces will be limited.
Already Chatham Public School, Taree West Public School and Taree Christian College have provided an indication of their team numbers and as usual big numbers are expected from St Joseph’s Primary School.