Representative teams from all over NSW travelled to the Central Coast recently to compete in four venues across the region in the lead-up to the Junior Premier League basketball tournament.
The Coastal Classic showcased saw some of the state’s fiercest junior competitors with teams coming from far and wide for an opportunity to go home with bragging rights before the season officially tips off.
Central Coast Basketball Representative Coordinator Killi Akamarmoi said not only was the Classic a great opportunity to catch a peek at the competition and prepare for the approaching season, but it was also a great way for teams to understand themselves ahead of a demanding year of basketball.
“With players starting at different ages and skill groups, it’s rare that teams will be entirely familiar with each other year in and year out,” Akamarmoi said.
“The Coastal Classic is the ideal way for players to build a culture and establish who they are and what they want as a collective before the season begins.”
The Central Coast Rebels and their friendly rivals the Central Coast Waves played host to a number of teams coming from as far afield as Coffs Harbor and Sydney, all gunning for the opportunity knock the hosts off on their own court.
The Rebels did not disappoint, taking home the gold in the Under 18 Women’s Division 2, Under 14 Men’s Division 1 and Under 18 Men’s Division 1 pools with the Under 18 Men going undefeated led by one of the state’s brightest rising stars, Dylan Tea.
The Under 18 Women’s Division 1 squad came up just short, going down to the Newcastle Falcons in a heated final.
Central Coast Basketball General Manager Matthew Tredrea said he was thrilled with the future implications for basketball in the region.
“It was a huge honor for both Rebels teams to reach the final of their home tournament in their last year of junior representative basketball along with their junior counterparts and it shows the level of depth on the Central Coast,” Tredrea said.
“The level of homegrown talent our senior representative program has to choose from cannot be overstated.
“The future of basketball on the Central Coast is bright.”
With the Central Coast Crusaders approaching their second season in the new NBL 1 East league, it’s safe to say that the Central Coast is among the trail-blazers in Australian basketball as it continues to become one of the nation’s fastest growing sports.
Stefan Kataric