Before their most recent enforced lay-off, young basketballers shrugged off COVID-19 lockdown and emulated their Olympic heroes at Kyabram Youth Club.
It was as if they hadn’t missed two weeks of competition, such was the level of play across all divisions.
But the big basketball news is that the girls have their own basketball league, and the next Opals starting five member may be among us.
Young trailblazers had their first hit-out at Kyabram Youth Club last Tuesday evening.
It is hoped that more girls will join their ranks and one day their numbers will equal the boys. After all, there is room for boys and girls on the basketball court.
If you would like your daughter to get involved in basketball, call 0414 815 527. The Girls’ League starts at 5.15pm and finishes around 6pm on Tuesdays at Kyabram Youth Club.
Meanwhile, in action on the court, the Raptors and Hornets could not be split in the first games back.
A 24-24 draw in the Prep/Grade 1/Grade 2 division between Raptors and Hornets set the tone for the evening.
After four frantic quarters, the players embraced in Olympic-esque camaraderie.
Raptors captain Kaden Cooper was his team’s top scorer with 12 points. He also pressured the ball-carrier relentlessly and created some timely turnovers. He had good support from partner-in-crime Kyle Pethybridge (10 points) and Lenny Perrella (two).
For Hornets, Eli Coombs top scored with 16 points and also pulled in some telling rebounds. Captain Cooper Ohlsen posted six points and Wesley McNally two.
Gators rose to top of the ladder with a 40-20 win over Wildcats.
After the two teams were 10-all at quarter-time, Gators’ Lincoln Johnstone (25) lifted his game and scored 12 points in the second to put his team 14 points to the good at the half. He had great support from Mason Kilpatrick (9) and Prep student Liam Parsons (8).
On the other side, Wes Smith had a night to remember in scoring 18 points. Tommy Goff-Quinn also hit the scoreboard.
Meanwhile in the Grade 3/4/5 division, a new-look Raptors team jumped to top spot on the ladder with an entertaining 67-43 victory over Hornets.
Cruz Kreymborg scored 19 points in the first quarter and it appeared that 50 was in his sights.
But the Hornets’ picked up their defensive pressure and restricted him to 32. Even so, 32 points in his first game was a gold-medal effort.
Teammate Oliver Walley used his height to good effect and posted a PB 25 points. The team’s other scorer was Jett Kreymborg with 10.
For Hornets, Liam McInnes posted 19, Riley Nicholson 16 and Ayden King eight.
But it was their willingness to work on the defensive end that stood out.
Consider that Raptors led 48-20 at the half, and you get a sense of how hard they worked and just what is the value of defence.
Brody Wells (16 points) and Nate Schubach (13) led Wildcats to a 35-24 win over Gators.
They piled on 16 points between them in the first quarter which set their team alight. Jack Miller (4) was strong in the air and repelled many advances. Lindsay Alley also hit the scoreboard.
All four Gators players found the bottom of the net, with Jimmy Goff-Quinn (9) the leading scorer. Ted Morton had seven, Ethan Saywell six and Wes Smith two.
Meanwhile in the Grade 6/Year 7/8 division, the Gators and Raptors played out an entertaining match in which the lead changed several times before Zayden Cardillo’s Gators took the win from David Panawidan’s Raptors.
Kyabram Youth Club is re-growing the sport of basketball in Kyabram. It is working with Basketball Victoria to achieve affiliation with the peak body. The only thing that stands in the way of Kyabram Youth Club entering into Basketball Victoria is players.
If you would like to get involved in helping us bring the sport of basketball back to Kyabram, please contact Michael on 0414 815 527.