Thursday, August 24, 2023

Issue:

Mackay and Whitsunday Life

Basketballers Shine At Queensland Championships

Testing your skills on court against the State’s leading schoolgirl basketballers can be a sometimes difficult and arduous task.

For a batch of athletic and determined Mercy College Mackay students it has proved a memorable experience with the nine hoopers bringing home a silver medal from the Molten Champion Basketball School of Queensland tournament staged last week on the Gold Coast.

Promising juniors Mackenzie Brown, Hannah Jenson, Ruby Crouch, Jessica Harris, Mia Young, Olivia Smyth, Amelia Crouch, Jaimie McPhee and Mikayla Green flew the flag proudly for the Mackay region by reaching the Grand Final of the Junior Secondary Girls Division 2 championship.  

Under the expert guidance of renowned Queensland North State basketball coach Jamiey Doevendans and Rachel McKenzie, the girls turned in superb performances to qualify for the trophy decider where they were toppled 31-21 by an all-conquering Trinity College Beenleigh team.

It was a courageous effort by the Mackay warriors after producing skilful displays to win seven of their eight Pool A fixtures and finish second on 22 points behind the undefeated Beenleigh outfit (24 points).

Mercy College advanced to the championship decider after tipping out Sheldon College 33-21 in a semi-final with the Beenleigh girls downing Mount Alvernia College 31-16.

During the Pool rounds the Mercy girls chalked up an impressive tally of 311 points while conceding only 109 – posting an even better record than eventual champions Trinity College (305-113).

Mercy College fielded a youthful combination in the Junior Secondary Boys Division 3 championship – winning their opening two games before lining up against some of the finest schoolboy basketball talent in the State.

On the final day the boys defeated Redlands College to clinch the play-off for seventh spot.

Contributed with thanks to Chris Karas.

Pic caption: Mercy College volunteer Head Basketball coach Jamiey Doevendans (left) and Assistant Principal Curriculum Scott McSherry with silver-medal winning hoopers standing L-R: Jessica Harris, Mia Young, Ruby Crouch, Mackenzie Brown; kneeling Jaimie McPhee, Olivia Smyth, Mikayla Green, Hannah Jenson and Amelia Crouch. Photo contributed

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