TAREE basketballer Mariah Radburn has been named in the Australian Country under 14 girls’ team to play in the Mel Young Classic this Easter in New Zealand.
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Mariah was informed of her selection when playing for NSW in the Australian Country Cup in Albury last month.
The St Clare’s High School student is the Manning River Times-Iguana Sportstar of the Week, earning a $50 open order at Iguana. Taree Basketball nominated her for the award.
She’ll be in New Zealand for a week. The Australian team will be based at Mount Maunganui in
Tauranga on the North Island. Major basketball Associations from throughout New Zealand will be involved while there will also be sides from the Pacific Islands as well as Australia.
.Mariah admits to being a bit stunned when first informed she was in the squad. However, now she’s just looking forward to winging her way to New Zealand.
Mariah said she was happy with her form at the Australian Country Cup. NSW fielded three teams in her age division while most Australian States along with New Zealand were represented. Mariah’s side finished fifth in the under 14s.
Mariah has no preference where she plays on the basketball court. However, she spent much of her time in Albury as a point guard, a position she enjoyed. She has no idea what role she’ll fill while in New Zealand.
The game keeps Mariah busy for much of the year, with the Australian Country Cup the perfect preparation for the start of the domestic and representative seasons at Taree.
Mariah plays three matches on Tuesdays at Taree, starting in the junior grades before progressing to the A-grade women.
She’s currently in training with the Taree Tornadoes under 14s for the rep season, with the side to play in the championship division.
Mariah will also have to fit commitments with the Hunter Academy of Sport on weekends with training and playing with the Tornadoes. Then there’ll also be school matches with St Clares to fit into the program.
Last year Mariah was a member of the NSW Country under 12s team that contested the Australian Cup in Albury. Later in the year she also played for NSW under 12s at the Pacific School Games in Adelaide.
While she said Adelaide was a great experience it did have its hectic moments on the court that included being concussed during one game. That forced her to miss a match against Western Australia.
Capping a successful year, Mariah was also a key member of the St Joseph’s Primary School side that won the NSW Schools Championship.