BASKETBALL
MELBOURNE United will be spreading the National Basketball League gospel far and wide during the pre-season, including a visit to Traralgon.
The Gippsland city is one of Victoria’s key basketball centres, which makes it an important stop on Melbourne United’s pre-season calendar.
After visiting Ballarat for a camp and pre-season game, the club, with the assistance of the Latrobe City Council, will move to the east of Victoria to play the Townsville Crocodiles in Traralgon on 30 August, 7pm tip off.
The exhibition game against the Crocs will cap off a three-day visit to Traralgon as Melbourne United continues pre-season preparations with a mini-training camp.
One of the host cities for the 2006 Commonwealth Games basketball tournament, Traralgon has first-class facilities worthy of hosting an NBL pre-season game, according to Melbourne United chief Vince Crivelli.
“We want to connect with as many basketball communities around Victoria as we can, and Traralgon is a key basketball city in this state,” Crivelli said.
“We are certainly looking forward to spending a few days in Traralgon with the basketball community of greater Gippsland, and taking another game to regional Victoria.”
The visit to Traralgon is a key part of the build-up to the historic first regular season game for Melbourne United at home to the Cairns Taipans on October 12.
Tickets will be on sale for the pre-season game from Monday at all Latrobe Leisure facilities.
For more information phone major events officer Jessica Lloyd on 5128 5630.
Bulls juniors step up
HOCKEY
FOUR juniors from the Gippsland Bulls Hockey Club have been selected to represent, or train with, the Victorian under 13 girls, under 13 boys and under 14 girls teams in preparation for the 2014 National Championships to be held in October in Brisbane and Adelaide.
A total of eight Bulls were invited to trial in July, with Simeon Glover, Adelle O’Doherty, Kate Rinehart and Gabriella Carbon achieving selection.
The quartet must now attend compulsory training in Melbourne twice a week and follow a strict diet, filling out a nutritional diary.
Mental skills training is also a big part of their weekly schedule along with extra fitness training.
Simeon is a goal keeper from Maffra who plays in the Gippsland Bulls under 14s, and has already represented Victoria in the under 12 school state team recently.
Adelle, also from Maffra, is an under 14 defender still in the midst of Victorian trials.
Kate of Bunyip is another strong defender in the Gippsland Bulls under 14 girls team and was picked for the state under 13 B Team.
Gabriella from Warragul is a pocket rocket and a testament that size does not matter on the hockey field.
She will join Kate as an emergency player for the under 13 B team.
Joshua Horsburgh, Mia Pedersen, Courtney McDonald and Jessica Cull also attended the trials, but were unsuccessful.
For more information on Gippsland Bulls Hockey Club visit
gippslandbullshockeyclub.org.au
