ROUND three of the Southern Junior League Basketball Competition was played in Goulburn and the Southern Highlands over the weekend.
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In Goulburn alone some 60 games were played using five courts including three at the Goulburn Recreation Area and one each at Trinity Catholic College and St Peter and Paul’s Primary School.
A further four courts were required in the Highlands to accommodate some of the games. Two courts at Moss Vale Stadium and two at Oxley College, while at least one game involving two ACT teams was played at the AIS.
Girls and boys under 12s, under 14s and under 16s played in Goulburn while the Under 18s played at Moss Vale Stadium and the under 12 girls division one, under 14 girls and under 14 division two boys played at Oxley College.
Basketball Associations involved in the competition included Illawarra, Wagga Wagga, Shoalhaven, Canberra Queanbeyan, Batemans Bay, Moss Vale, Albury and Batemans Bay.
Most of the associations fielded more than one team in each of the age groups.
Besides the visiting players, managers and coaches there was a large contingent of game officials, scorers and several evaluators there to assess the skills of the officials and provide tips on how to improve their game control.
Most of the teams had at least seven players, many had nine or more all looking for food, snacks and refreshments between games. This kept the canteens at the venues quite busy at times.
Besides all those directly involved in the games or their organisation there were many parents, friends and siblings also along to watch the games.
One can only wonder if amongst the several hundred players there was one or more future Lauren Jacksons or Paddy Mills, both Australian legends of basketball who started their playing careers with Southern Junior League competitions like we witnessed on the weekend.
Australia has produced many basketball players who have gone on to play in the United States NBA and WNBA and also represented our country at Olympic Games and World Championships.
Like Jackson and Mills their passion for the game started with junior competitions and the Southern State League.
Basketball offers a fairly clear pathway for both players and officials to take their sport to a higher level and many of these players will be looking toward the Australian Junior Country Cup in Albury in January or the odd age competition around the same time.
Junior officials also vie for selection to participate in these tournaments and for the honour of officiating at a grand final. Some will go on to become National Basketball League officials and may even look toward international level certification.
Above all these tournaments provide an opportunity for players to meet other young people from outside their own district and form friendships that will last into the future.