The Southern Peninsula Basketball Association would like to wish our Sharks representatives the best of luck at the 2018 Basketball Australia ‘Australian Junior Championships’ in Geelong starting this Saturday, April 21st.

Representing our club this year are;

Lucas Allen – Head Coach u18 Men

Ben White – Assistant Coach u18 Men

Wayne Thornton – Team Manager u18 Men

Olivia Pollerd – Player u18 Women

Gerard Hillier – Head Coach u18 Women

In 2017, Gerard Hillier and his u18 Women won the Australian Junior Championships and with 3 returning players from that team, Hillier aims to replicate that success.  Gerard is clear that last years success is in the past and that it is what lies ahead that will determine success in 2018 “It is a different team altogether.  I believe that we have a group that can challenge for the Gold Medal again, however, it will be a whole new journey to get there”.

Head Coach of the u18 Men, Lucas Allen, almost had the ultimate success with a very similar group at the 2016 u16 Australian Junior Championships, losing the Gold Medal game by 8 points.  Similarly to the Coach Hillier, Allen understands that it is a different team in 2018 “The past doesn’t help us succeed in the future.  We have not focussed at all on what was achieved in 2016, we simply have to perform in Geelong if we want to win”.

The 2018 Australian Junior Championships is the first time Ben White has been on the official staff after serving his time as a Development Coach for the last two campaigns.

Wayne Thornton has joined the Basketball Victoria country family as a staff member for the first time as the u18 Men’s Team Manager.

This will be Olivia Pollerd’s third Australian Junior Championships, following two years at the u16 Championships, with her most recent tournament being a part of a Silver Medal winning team coached by another Southern Peninsula representative, Joe Turner.

u18 Men’s Fixture

21/4/18 – 11:00am – Geelong Arena Court 1 v Tasmania

22/4/18 – 7:00pm – Geelong Arena Court 1 v NSW Metro

23/4/18 – 3:00pm – Geelong Arena Court 1 v WA Country

24/4/18 – 5:00pm – Geelong Arena Court 1 v QLD North

25/4/18 – 7:30pm – Geelong Arena Court 1 v SA Metro

Finals fixtures and further team information can be found here

u18 Women’s Fixture

21/4/18 – 7:00pm – Geelong Arena Court 1 v QLD North

22/4/18 – 5:00pm – Geelong Arena Court 1 v Tasmania

23/4/18 – 5:00pm – Geelong Arena Court 1 v NSW Country

24/4/18 – 7:00pm – Geelong Arena Court 1 v SA Metro

25/4/18 – 1:45 pm – Geelong Arena Court 2 v WA Country

Finals fixtures and further team information can be found here