Basketball
12 February, 2025
Young Hornets ready for championships
The Horsham Hornets under-16 boys and girls have completed their preparations for the Junior Country Championships, which will be held at Bendigo this weekend, Saturday, February 15, and Sunday, February 16.
All the top teams in country Victoria will descend on Bendigo to determine the champion of country Victoria.
The under-16 boys, coached by Cam Bruce, enter the tournament following a solid season, winning the Horsham Intersport Junior Classic and the Hamilton Basketball Tournament while being competitive in the Warrnambool and Bendigo tournaments.
The Ballarat Miners, Mildura Heat, and Sale Sonics are in their pool and are all tough teams.
The Hornets' team is Chavi Sulic, Aiden Reinheimer, Henry Walsgott, Lincoln Tucker, Tyler Roach, Charlie Hobbs, Baxta Wade, Zac Martin, and Jasper Beddison.
Cam Bruce said they hope to get to division one.
"If we finish in the top eight, we get put in division one on Sunday, and to play teams like Ballarat, Geelong and Bendigo will be huge," Bruce said.
"We have a pretty tough draw, but the boys have trained hard and worked hard all year, and we will see how we go against some of the big associations.
"If we end up in division two, I believe we are talented enough to win, but division one will be a huge success."
Jordy Burke coaches the under-16 girls, and like the boys, they won the Horsham Intersport Classic and the Hamilton Basketball Tournament. They were runners-up in Warrnambool and competitive in Bendigo.
They play the Bendigo Braves, Swan Hill Flyers and Warrnambool Mermaids in their pool.
The Hornets' team is Kirrily Dandy, Lani King, Hayley Tippet, Olivia Taylor, Ivy Hofmaier, Ruby Bethune, Ruby Williams and Ruby Janetzki. Unfortunately, Rani Potter will miss due to injury.
Burke said everyone is excited.
"The expectation is high, and we have shown throughout the season that we are a competitive team," Burke said.
"The girls can play excellent basketball, and we are excited, and hopefully, we can come away with a good tournament.
"Finishing in division one playoffs would be an awesome result."