Basketball Tasmania’s state under-age championship series for 2010 continues this weekend when the state’s best 16 and 17 year-old players gather at Launceston’s Elphin Sports Centre for the Tasmania under 18 titles.
The event is hosted on behalf of Basketball Tasmania by the Launceston Junior Basketball League and has attracted a field of 22 teams spread over two boys’ and two girls’ divisions.
Entries have been received from associations from all parts of the state and as well as the major cities, teams are representing smaller centres such as New Norfolk, Smithton, Somerset, Penguin, Wynyard and Latrobe. Included amongst the entries are the two state under 16 sides which are using the event as part of their respective final preparations prior to the national under 16 titles which commence in Queensland on 3rd July.
Greater Hobart and Devonport have shared the Men’s Division 1 title between them for the last eight years straight with the southern combination holding a 5-3 lead. Devonport will be keen to take a step towards pegging back Greater Hobart’s advantage but with Smithton being ranked ahead of them in the North West competition, the Warriors will have their work cut out to even make the final.
Greater Hobart, Devonport and Smithton have all drawn in the same preliminary pool and with the North West’s top-ranked side Ulverstone choosing to stay at home for the weekend, the way could be open for Smithton to create an upset.
Launceston, Somerset and the state u16s have drawn in the other pool with the biggest challenge looking likely to come from Launceston.
Women’s Division 1 title-holder Launceston will be looking to repeat its 2006/2007 back to back titles but must first overcome its Group B opponents Somerset and Devonport which are ranked two and three respectively in the North West.
In Group A, the big battle should be between last year’s losing grand finalist Greater Hobart which won the under 16 championship with this team two years ago and top-ranked coastal side Ulverstone although Latrobe and the state under 16s will also be out to make an impact.
Launceston II, Wynyard, Latrobe, New Norfolk, Burnie and Penguin will contest the division 2 men’s competition while in women’s division 2, entries have come from Wynyard, Smithton and Burnie.
Saturday’s opening matches on all four courts at Elphin are scheduled to tip off at 10.00am with the day’s last games starting at 6.45pm. Action on Sunday starts at 9.00am and the championship concludes on Sunday afternoon with the women’s and men’s division 1 finals at 12.45pm and 2.00pm respectively.
This Weekend’s Draw: can be found at http://www.tas.basketball.net.au/_uploads/res/19_48576.doc
Further information:
David Scott: 6228 1822 (B); 0409 128 818 (M)
Championship Coordinators (and for results over the weekend):
Julie Thomas 0403 476 589, Belinda Cartledge 0427 447 894, Lyn Butt 0407 442 878.
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