The Hillvue Public basketball girls (back from left) Kimmi Smallwood, Kiarra Dixon, Sheleaka O'Leary-Cloake, Dhalara Knox, Debra Flett, (front from left) Taylor Nean-Bell, Barbara Flett, Shontaia Berry, Sharika Nean-Bell and (absent) Tabatha Miller, play in the state finals today. Photo: Geoff O’Neill 070912GOE01
HILLVUE was the second best PSSA girls’ primary basketball team in the state last year.
Today they can become the best.
The girls are in Bathurst for the state finals and, even though they only have three players left from last year’s side, they are confident they can go one better.
“This is our third year,” coach Brigette Knox said.
“There are only three girls backing up after last year so there’s a lot of new ones.
“There are two younger ones but most of them are Year Six girls.”
The new players have stepped up to the mark.
After beating Armidale City to win the regional title, Hillvue then got past Gloucester to reach the last eight.
The first challenge in Bathurst is the quarter-final this morning.
“If we win we go into the top four,” Knox said.
“Last year we came second and the year before we made the semis.
“This year we want to go one better.
“We’ll be confident.
“We haven’t got a tall side this year but they are skillful.
“They are quick around court, they have good passing and good team work, so that makes up for not being tall.”
The side has developed its skills in the local midweek competitions in Tamworth.
The girls have even gone up against older teams to help develop their games even more.
“About half of them play rep basketball,” Knox said.
“And they play in the Thursday night primary comp.
“They also play in a high schools comp, just to get them used to playing taller girls.
“It’s so they don’t fear the bigger kids.”
Team manager Lyn McDonald said the trip to Bathurst is not only about basketball, but it is also a great experience for the girls, especially those who have not been away on such a trip before.