By JARROD POTTER
SHINING under the national spotlight, Casey Cavaliers’ under-14 boys showed south-eastern basketballers are more than capable of matching it against the best in the country.
Casey’s under-14s have been on fire this season – as they shot their way into the Victorian Championship (VC) competition (currently sitting fourth) and booked their place in a pair of high calibre junior basketball tournaments.
From all of Australia, the top 16 teams in each age group were invited to clash on the Queen’s Birthday Weekend in the National Junior Classic.
Battling the likes of Melbourne Tigers, Sandringham and South Australian pair Sturt Sabres and North Adelaide, the Cavaliers – coached by Simon Phillips – manfully soldiered on to finish the tournament in sixth with a three-win, three-loss record.
While some of the team may feel discouraged to end their National Junior Classic campaign on a sour note – conceding a 37-58 loss to Bulleen in the fifth place play-off – the coach was thrilled to see his side step up strongly against the best in Australia.
“The big positive would have been the level of play the boys have produced and some of the players who haven’t played it (National Junior Classic) before have quickly adapted,” Phillips said.
“It makes me really proud that some of these boys have been playing rep basketball for three or four years and all the hard work is starting to pay off and show great rewards.”
Even though the opposition may outsize the Cavaliers, Phillips believes his side’s capabilities will surprise anyone who thinks they’ll be a walkover.
“If teams go in overconfident against us then they’re going to get a bit of a rude shock and I think we can pinch a couple of wins where other people think we shouldn’t get them,” Phillips said.
“Our trademarks are speed, aggression defensively and our shooting – probably perimeter shooting as we’ve got some great outside shooters.”
Phillips said the association’s reputation was on the line every time the Cavaliers played at the national level, and encouraged his players to get out and relish the opportunity.
“It’s like what I tell my players, now everybody and especially the younger teams, under-12 and other under-14 teams, are all looking up to us now and now we’re the flag bearers for this age-group,” Phillips said.
“Everybody’s opinion of Casey comes from how we play so we must always play at our hardest every week.”
The next challenge for the Cavaliers will be on the national stage once again as Philips and his charges head to Perth for the Under 14 Boys Australian Club Championships, held 28 September to 3 October.
Phillips wanted to thank the Casey Basketball Association for their faith in him as a coach and all the parents of the under-14 side that have supported the team and coaches.
CASEY CAVALIERS NATIONAL JUNIOR CLASSIC TEAM:
Dylan Bucknell, Luka Kovanovic, Makaoi Haywood, Lewis Hill, Matthew Honeymoon (vice-captain), Gericho Landicho (captain), Kobe Miles, Corey Roos, Jayden Route and James Trezise. Simon Phillips (coach) and Andrew Carr (assistant coach).
