THE number of players involved in the men’s basketball competition at Saxby’s Stadium in Taree on Tuesday nights continues to rise and although that is great, things need to change for the benefit of all participants.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The first move to improve the situation and reduce the number of players on each team roster is to add another team, which will bring a bye into the competition and although that is not ideal, on the plus side the start of the last game will remain at 8.30pm.
Organisers of any sporting competition rely heavily on the regular weekly participation of all players and although Taree Basketball is pleased with the upward movement of playing numbers, it must be said that players need to make a greater commitment to being in attendance each week and ensure their Basketball NSW player registration is current.
New team rosters will be released soon on the website as an attempt is made to make the men’s competition better for everyone.
The first round of junior representative basketball was played in Tamworth with the games producing mixed results.
The 12 girls started the competition in red hot form to record three wins from as many games to sit with the Gosford City Rebels as the only undefeated teams after round one. Taree rattled up 60+ points in each of their games against Coffs Harbour Suns and Lismore Storm while holding their opponents to low scores on the back of tough defensive efforts.
Their counterparts in the 12 boys also played well to start with a loss against Newcastle Hunters White, only to bounce back to record a break through win against the Maitland Mustangs before wrapping up with a hard fought loss against the Bellinger Valley Braves.
The Taree 18 girls failed to make a mark in the “win” column, battling hard against Coffs Harbour Suns, Lismore Storm, Ballina Breakers and Quirindi, but on the plus side, the team did manage to improve each time they stepped onto the playing surface.
Other Taree Tornadoes teams in the U14 girls and boys, 16 girls and boys and 18 boys divisions head to Tamworth later today or very early tomorrow to fire up their Molten Waratah Northern Junior Basketball League campaigns. The 14 girls in the Country Premium League travel to the Illawarra on the weekend of March 25/26 for their first games in this elite competition.
School basketball for children from kindergarten to year 10 will continue tomorrow even though the Taree Tornadoes will be away. Anyone seeking a game is welcome to call into Saxby’s Stadium any time from 8.30am to 2pm to gain all the information necessary.
Semi-finals are just around the corner with the kindergarten to year four divisions to play all the way to the end of the competition on Saturday, April 1. Girls years 5/6, boys years 5/6 and mixed years 7 to 10 to play semi-finals on Saturday, March 25 before the winning teams advance to finals on Saturday April 1.