Sport
Jamboree cancelled for second year after getting jammed up by Covid-19 restrictions
Uncertainty around COVID-19 has seen Echuca's biggest junior basketball event become the latest sporting casualty this year.
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Basketball Victoria announced last week its annual Country Jamboree would not go ahead this year due to the unpredictability of COVID-19 restrictions and border closures around the Echuca-Moama region.
The event was scheduled to run at Echuca Stadium from September 18 and 22, though the organisation had given itself until August 6 at the latest to make a final decision on the event.
It is the second year in a row the Country Jamboree hasn't been able to run, after COVID-19 restrictions last year also thwarted its go ahead.
The five-day camp brings the best under 12 players from across regional Victoria to Echuca for intense skill training and game practice.
It is also a vital pathway for junior coaches and umpires to further their own skills and experience.
Basketball Victoria has stated it would return to Echuca for the 2022 Country Jamboree.
The organisation will now endeavour to host two under 12 talent identification camps at Ballarat on September 20-21 in place of this year's Jamboree.
Players will be selected from regional under 12 skills days to held across regional Victoria from August 21-22, with 120 girls and 120 boys chosen for an one-day camp.
Echuca Basketball Association president Lisa Baker said although the cancellation of this year's Jamboree was a disappointing outcome for young players, it was unavoidable in light of the state of the world.
“It's disappointing for kids who have missed it two years in a row, but fingers crossed the talent identification day can go ahead and that will be at least something for them,” Baker said.
“We've had a heap of interest from our boys and girls for that. It's a good starting point to get that experience of making new friends and being coached by other coaches.
“It's just an overall awesome opportunity for them.”
EBA has also cancelled the remainder of its domestic winter season, and will instead aim to return to court for its summer season after the September school holidays.
“We only had five weeks left of this season and then once we got into lockdown, it just wasn't feasible to come back for four weeks,” Baker said.
“Hopefully we might be able to offer the kids some domestic skills and training (in the meantime), if we're allowed back on the court. We'll keep everyone in touch with that.”
Also on the books is the EBA's annual junior tournament from September 24 to 26. Baker said the association would do all it could to run the event.
“Time is slipping away, so it is an unknown,” Baker admitted.
“We're planning to do it as if COVID-19 wasn't here, but obviously it's a wait and see game and we'd make that call early September.”
The Echuca Basketball Association has announced its junior representative Pirates teams for the 2021/22 season. For the full list turn to page 14.
Echuca Basketball Association has announced its junior Echuca Pirate representative teams. Congratulations to the following:
Under 18 Boys Division 1
Coach: Jack Lees.
Players: Hugh Byrne, Solly Fleming, Max Hagan, Declan Hallett, Riley Hutton, Cooper Mitchell, Harry Milburn, Jai Milligan, Will Poulton, Jobe Shanahan.
Under 18 Boys Division 2
Coach: Gregg Stubbs.
Players: Toby Coutts, Fynn Hatfield, Sam Marland, Bailey Miller, Jack Morley, Nash Ramage, Josh Roberts, Callum Shingles, Lewis Stubbs, Zack Wileman.
Under 18 Girls Division 1
Coach: Liv Taverna.
Players: Sienna Agg, Eden Drennan, Charlotte Gould, Alexis Gregor, Finny O’Brien, Jorja Oliver, Lilli Oliver, Ash Leary.
Under 16 Boys Division 1
Coach: Simon O’Toole.
Players: Brooklyn Barnes, Alex Donchi, Luca Hallett, Jai Hutson, Darby Jones, Bailey Shead, Liam Shead, Oska MacFarlane, Charlie O’Toole, Cody Walker.
Under 16 Boys Division 2
Coach: TBA.
Players: Curtis Foran, Bodhi Griffiths, Bill Hipwell, Jim Hipwell, Noah Hore, Lennix Keam, Jack Oliver, Luke Oellermann, Jude Phyland, Angus Watson.
Under 16 Girls Division 1
Coach: Josh Hutton.
Players: Mya Baker, Rose Byrne, Scarlett Connelly, Stella Elliott, Eve Hatfield, Madison Leary, Zoe McCallum, Ruby Morley, Beth Morris, Emma Oellermann, Indi Phillips, Sienna Phillips, Paige Simpson, Kailey Sutton.
Under 14 Boys Division 1
Coach: Kain Anderson.
Players: Kai Anderson, Keoni Anderson, Taj Fleming, Will Hatfield, Oliver Jones, Paddy Oliver, Toby Phyland, Mac Ryan, Mitchell Sutton, Charlie Voss.
Under 14 Boys Division 2
Coach: Brad Gotch.
Players: Liam Beasley, Henry Bell, Arley Canham, Jake Edwards, Charlie Gotch, Jaxon Hogan, Tyler Jardine, Jack Millar, Xan Spiers, Charlie Sutton.
Under 14 Girls Division 1
Coach: Chris Hutton.
Players: Diaz Agg, Summer Atkinson, Ashlyn Carter, Tiana Knight, Jaz Milligan, Milly Morley, Elisa Napier, Kiarra Owen, Rhylee Pollock, Addison Power.
Under 14 Girls Division 2
Coach: TBA.
Players: Georgia Beasley, Macey Boyd, Willow Clark, Poppy Emery, Ava Irwin, Indi Kervin, Bella Lai, Eliza Leeds, Anahata Pheland, Lily Pike.
Under 12 Boys Division 1
Coach: Regan Smith.
Players: Xav Phillips, Ollver Phyland, Kai Rankin, Mason Retalick, Ryder Retalick, Revee Sellars, Arli Walker, Jobe Williams.
Under 12 Boys Division 2
Coach: TBA.
Players: Jake Baker, Ged Canham, Logan Farrar, Charlie Flanigan, Hugh Napier, Boa Spiers, Billy Sutton, Jaz von Lueders.
Under 12 Girls Division 1
Coach: Jaz Ryan.
Players: Violet Agg, Isabella Atkinson, Ava Elliott, Sadie Jones, Sophie Millar, Grace Napier, Olivia Pretty, Milla Ryan.
Under 12 Girls Division 2
Coach: TBA.
Players: Pippa Leeds, Myla Long, Emma McNamara, Amelia Morris, Greta Pollock, Lucy Pollock, Chloe Ryan, Claudia Walshe.
Sports journalist