Barrier Daily Truth

Broncos shine at Pacific Slam

Thursday, 2nd February, 2012

SUCCESS: Whitney Smith with the Under 15 Grand Final cup.

Two BH basketballers have enjoyed success while representing SA Country teams at national competitions.

Whitney Smith was part of the SA Country Under-15 team that swept through the Pacific Coast Slam carnival at Port Macquarie winning eight games including the Grand Final against NSW Waratahs.

Maddison O’Dwyer almost matched that effort in the Under-17 competition, with SA Country having to settle for second spot after losing the Grand Final to Southern Districts (Qld) in overtime.

SA had their chance to win the title with the last shot, but when the ball failed to drop an extra period was needed and resulted in an 81-71 victory to the Queenslanders.

Maddison claimed some individual success as the leading scorer at the carnival, finishing with 60 points at an average of 12 per game, which caught the eye of national selectors.

Given that her father Johno only recently passed away, it was an amazing effort from the teenager to remain so composed during a very emotional time.

The SA team wore black armbands in honour of Maddison’s father and observed one minute’s silence ahead of a match against a team from New Zealand at the request of the Kiwis.

“It is a New Zealand tradition and one they suggested when they were told why SA was wearing the armbands,” a spokesman for the team said.

“When Maddison came off after the game she told her Mother; ‘Wow, that was for Dad’,” the spokesman added.

The SA Country Under-17 team started the carnival slowly, losing to Southern Districts (by 8 points) and NSW Waratahs (4), but then won three consecutive games to make the semi-finals.

A narrow 4-point win over NSW Kookaburras in the semi-final enabled them to make the Grand Final, but Southern Districts again denied them victory in an overtime thriller.

Apart from leading SA in scoring, Maddison was also one of the team’s leading rebounders and played excellent defence.

Representing BH in the SA Country Under-15 side was a “very proud” moment for Whitney Smith and to capture the title will be a memory she will cherish for a long time.

“The team was very well drilled, combined well and pleased coach Glen Hosking with their work rate,” the spokesman said.

“Whitney was a solid performer in all games, with her accurate passing and shooting a feature.”

SA Country defeated teams from NSW, WA, Queensland and New Zealand to claim the title, outscoring NSW Waratahs 64-48 in the Grand Final.

Whitney finished with 40 points for the carnival and was considered one of SA’s best players along with Alex Walker (Millicent), Rachel Hines (Mount Gambier) Kenisha Seidel (Murray Bridge) And Chelsea Brook (Barossa Valley).