Albury-Wodonga under 18 boys’ coach Broady Mills admits his players were “star-struck” in the opening games of the Australian Country Junior Basketball Cup.
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Three Border teams are contesting the titles, including the under 18 and 14 girls.
The entire event serves as a development program, but particularly for the local teams.
“At first they struggled a little bit the first game, they were a bit, I guess, star-struck playing against the state kids,” Mills said.
“But once they realised they’re just basketballers, it’s the same sport, just different people, so they’re getting a lot better with it the last few games.”
Albury-Wodonga has a number of under-age players, who contest under 16 level in the local competition.
“Yeah it was a bit (intimidating) because they’re like a foot bigger, but we got through it against South Australia,” captain Mitch Donovan said.
“We held them to about 50 points the first half, which we haven’t done all week.”
The Border outfit started its campaign with a 113-44 loss to the Tas Devils, and followed that with a 49-point loss to the Tas Tigers.
South Australia Magpies toppled the Border outfit, 104-58.
Despite the losses, Mills maintains playing against quality opposition can only further their development.
“I think it will help them heaps, the boys that I coach regularly will be able to take this stuff into regular tournaments and just make it a lot easier for themselves to have confidence in themselves,” he said.
Guards Jared Arden, Jake Bowen and Donovan have been their best, but given they’re some of the smaller players, it highlights the team’s battle against the bigger outfits.
“We have a few quick players, so we try and get around them,” Donovan said.
“Outside shots we usually try to go to, ball movement is another way to try to get around them.”
Albury-Wodonga will round out the regular rounds against NSW Kookaburras on Thursday morning, with the quarter-finals to follow in the afternoon.
It will be a massive test for the local team, but the coach just wants the group to develop greater belief.
“Just playing with confidence really against these best kids in the State, great experience for them,” Mills said.
“Just to develop their own game and see where they’re at.”
Meanwhile the under 18 girls suffered losses to the NSW Kookaburras and Waratahs and Magpies.
The under 14 girls have been the most competitive, falling by only nine and 11 points to the Sharks and NZ Weka respectively.
