ZAIDA GLIBANOVIC
BASKETBALL
By ZAIDA GLIBANOVIC
MOE’S Under 14 girls’ basketball team won the Division 1 Junior Country Championships at Traralgon on Sunday, April 16, in a nail-biting one-point victory over the Wodonga Wolves in the last few seconds of the game.
With four seconds left on the clock, Woodonga were up 34-33, but Moe didn’t stop hustling. With a jump ball call in the dying seconds going the Moe girl’s way, a pass from well over the half court to the top of the two-point line saw the girls able to put up a shot in the very last second to get the win.
Hollie Jackson has coached the team since they were under the age of 10 and has won the Junior Country Championships before and set the goal to win it again in 2023.
“Not only as the coach but also the parent of a player, winning this title is the highlight of my basketball coaching career. To see all the girls work so hard on their skills and development throughout the season, both on and off the court, along with our major focus on teamwork, to see it all come together when it counted the most, was amazing!”
“Moe Meteors U14 Girls have now received an invite to compete at the Kumon Classic held in Dandenong in June. The best 128 teams (both boys and girls) from across Australia compete in the tournament, with teams from Metropolitan Melbourne and Regional Victoria able to qualify while interstate teams from New South Wales, Canberra, Western Australia, Northern Territory, Queensland, South Australia and New Zealand all able to nominate and qualify,” she added.
The Moe Meteors are incredibly proud of their Under 14’s team, as Jackson said that this was the second time a Moe team had won a Division 1 Country Championships Title.
“The last time was 10 years ago when Jaz Shelley (former Moe Meteors player that now plays USA College Basketball for Nebraska Cornhuskers) played in the team. Jaz sent a personal congrats to the girls and plans on catching up for a session with the team when she returns home next month on break,” said Jackson.
Moe had great court successes in the past month as in the Under 18 Girls Division 3, Moe Meteors took away the competition in a 48-35 victory over Melton Thoroughbreds. The Under 12 girls also showcased their dominance and went back-to-back winning their second Division 3 Championship title.
“Local associations from Gippsland have been well represented across all Junior Country Championships this year in all divisions, including wins by Korumburra, Traralgon and Warragul, along with Grand final appearances by Bairnsdale, Foster, Sale, Traralgon and Wonthaggi. This explains why the Gippsland United Basketball Association has so many strong teams competing this season in VJBL,” Moe coach Jackson said.
“This has been the most successful two years Basketball Moe have had at Country Champs with [coaching staff Hollie, Maddie and Jorjie-Belle working together to get wins in U14 Girls Division 4 Champs 2022, U12 Girls Division 3 Champs 2022, U18 Girls Division 3 Champs 2023, U14 Girls Division 1 Champs 2023 and U12 Girls Division 3 Champs 2023.”
The Junior Country Championships are conducted yearly for the U12, U14, U16 and U18 age groups. Regional affiliated associations and country Victorian athletes are accepted as events are held over multiple days in a round-robin and knock-out setting. A thrilling two days of basketball competition unfolded in Traralgon, with 11 teams emerging victorious across all divisions on Sunday afternoon. Basketball Victoria thanked Traralgon Amateur Basketball Association for hosting the event and thanked all participating associations, athletes, parents, officials, coaches, volunteers, and administrators who created a memorable experience.
Champions: Moe’s Under 14 Girls team won Division 1 in a thriller. Photographs supplied
