RECAP: U18 Australian Junior Championships
TWO of our Southern Peninsula juniors last week took the floor representing Victoria Country against the best athletes in the nation at the U18 Australian Junior Championships held in Werribee.
Darcy Jones, in his second stint in the white uniform came ready to prove a point from day one as a leader in the young team.
Corey Hastings debuted for Vic Country as a bottom age this year after also being selected in U16s State Team in 2020 when the nationals was cancelled due to COVID-19.
Jones kicked off the week with a stunning 31 points, knocking down eight threes in 30 minutes to lead the team over the line in a tough two-point win against New South Wales Country. Finishing the week off with 14.86 points per game, 2.29 rebounds per game and 1.86 assists per game.
Across the whole competition, Jones was 4th in the number of threes hit during the week with 21 and was the third highest free throw percentage shooter across the board.
In Hastings’ first outing representing his state he defined himself as one of the strongest all round guards going around. A danger in defense for the other team while also cashing in 18 points vs Queensland, 23 points vs South Australia and 24 points vs Northern Territory.
Corey proved to be a vital asset to the team across the week with big minutes only increasing every game.
Hastings finished the week with an average of 13 points per game, 2.29 rebounds per game, 1 assist per game and shooting the ball at an elite 40.48%.
Both athletes have developed through the Basketball Victoria Country and Southern Peninsula Pathways.
Both athletes were selected from the Basketball Victoria Country U14 Skills Days into the BVC U14 Academy Program in both bottom and top age U14.
In their U16 years both progressed onto the Basketball Victoria State Development Program where they then proceeded onto opportunities such as Southern Cross Challenge and the Australian Country Junior Basketball Cup which are the steps before State Teams. Both athletes are also part of our Senior Representative Program as part of their player pathway.
For more information on pathways, contact Director of Coaching & High Performance, Matt Brasser at doc@sthpen.com.au.
