Thursday, August 24, 2023

Issue:

Mackay and Whitsunday Life

Whitsunday Basketball

A resurgent Proserpine Pirates were the only undefeated team on the night in round 3 of the all-new Friday Nights Under Lights basketball competition.

In the first match of the evening, the previously undefeated Airlie Beach Ballers faced off against the Pirates.

The Pirates team had been boosted by several new recruits and they were too strong for the Ballers prevailing 25-12.

The Ballers then took on the Cannonvale Crocs for the second match of the evening.

This was quite a tight game however the Crocs were too good in the end, inflicting the second defeat of the evening on the Ballers, 22-14.

The final game of the evening saw the Pirates really assert their dominance with a 42-20 victory over the Crocs. This has been a real turnaround in form for the Pirates who didn’t win game in round 1.

“It’s been a thrill to watch these kids improve over the last 3 weeks,” Team Manager of the Proserpine Pirates, Natasha Daniels, said

“Even when we weren’t winning, they kept their chins up and never stopped trying. I’m so happy that they had two good wins tonight!"

This is the inaugural term of the Friday Nights Under Lights concept, brought to the community by Whitsunday Basketball. Games are held at Cannonvale State School on Friday evenings from 5pm and are for children aged 8 to 16 years.

The goal is to create a basketball competition for children in the Whitsundays which doesn't require parents to have to take them to Mackay every second weekend.

It is hoped that the Bowen Breakers will join the competition in the coming weeks.

Contributed with thanks to Tim Oberg

Friday night lights basketball is proving extremely popular each week

The young players are enjoying back and forth, free scoring games in the first season

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