BASKETBALL
By samuel darroch
A DELEGATION of Latrobe City Energy up-and-comers is set for a monumental test in basketball’s promised land when they depart for a sporting tour of the United States on Boxing Day.
Seven under 18 players will play up to eight games under the orange Energy banner against a range of US high school teams throughout January.
The Energy contingent forms part of a larger party, which includes three girls from the club, and marks the first time a full Latrobe City side has taken part on the tour.
Re-elected Energy president David Roberts said the trip was a chance for players to experience the ‘elitist’ basketball culture in the US.
“A lot of players here have that aspiration to try to get into college basketball so it’s a good opportunity to take them over, have a look at the system and sport over there,” Roberts said.
“It’s a little different here, it’s very much school based over there and pretty much elitist. In America, unless you make the top group of players in your school, you don’t get that chance to play.”
The tour will take in North and South Carolina, as well as Los Angeles.
In other Latrobe Energy news evergreen American Vashon Weaver will make his return to the club, where he began his Australian basketball career.
The Churchill Blue Devils star will join a squad that will this year go without the services of Texan Russell Permenter.
The club said it was close to securing an alternative foreign signing, and was also chasing a female import to bolster its stocks for 2014.
Energy touring party
– Ben Barlow
– Matthew Bertoli
– Will Lowe
– Ayden Thorne
– Blake Ward
– Lachlan Ware
– Brad Watson
Coaches: Chris Watson / Tim Barlow
Combined Girls (Dolphins) Team
– Lilly Bosse
– Eden Bourke
– Tasma Horton
Coach – David Roberts
