BASKETBALL
Moe’s under 12 boys’ basketball team joined the T-Birds on the Latrobe Valley winner’s list from last weekend’s Victorian Basketball Country Championships.
Moe took out the title in division four by beating Foster in the final, 57-25.
A number of players shone in the win including Jordan Shields (16 points), Tom Matthews (11 points), Zach Daly (10 points) and Louis Hennessy (10 points).
Coach Lisa Shields said the somewhat unlikely bunch deserved all the accolades for their win.
“I’ve got boys who have won just three games of squad basketball in the last 16 months, so to win a grand final at that level is just amazing,” Shields said.
“I definitely didn’t expect to win … we got one win last year but I knew we’d be a bit more competitive but I was just hoping for more than one win.
“The boys kicked into gear in the final and everything we’ve been working on in the last 12 months … I’ve just screamed at them for so long and for whatever reason it just clicked for them this time.”
Shields pointed to a special mateship among the playing group as crucial in Moe’s tournament success.
“They’ve all clicked, they get along, they’re not just basketball players they’re friends and I think that has made a difference,” she said.
“I’m just so unbelievably proud, I’ve got eight kids in this team … they’re all mine and I love them dearly and they made me so proud.
“I didn’t think coaching would do that to me, but to think of how hard we have worked and the little success we’ve had … I could have cried.
“Renee Blandford is our team manager and assistant coach and has ridden all the highs and lows over the last 18 months, we couldn’t have done it without her.”
