The Burdekin Wildcats U12 Boys Representative basketball campaign kicked off in June, with the team travelling to Cairns, Mackay, and Townsville to compete in the North Queensland Junior Basketball Carnival (NQJBC). The boys played 12 games across three carnivals, securing an impressive 10 wins out of 12. Their only losses were narrowly by just 2 and 4 points, earning them the gold medal and setting the stage for an exciting journey ahead.
Next, the team travelled to Toowoomba for the State Basketball Championships, where they competed in Division 2 over four days and seven games. In their pool, they won 3 out of 5 games, which led to a crossover match against the Southern Districts Spartans - a powerhouse team with over 150 boys at their representative trials. Despite putting up a strong fight and leaving everything on the court, the Wildcats were narrowly defeated by just 2 points in the final moments of the game.
This loss sent the Wildcats into the final game of the tournament, where they competed for 7th or 8th place. The team, consisting of just eight players, proudly finished in 8th place in Division 2, placing 20th overall out of 76 teams from across the state. Head coach Amy Chandler and assistant coach Lauren Roncato expressed immense pride in the boys’ performance, highlighting their dedication, hard work, and the true Burdekin spirit they displayed on the court. Both Amy and Lauren noted achieving 8th place in Division 2 at State Championships level is a remarkable accomplishment that the boys should all be incredibly proud of.
The Wildcats were fortunate to receive unwavering support from their families and generous sponsors, including D&C Pennisi, Industry Fire Services, DG & M O'Shea Painting Contractors, ROSHEA Industrial, and Sgroi Farming. Additionally, the team received overwhelming support from local Burdekin businesses during their fundraising efforts to help get the team to the State Championships.
This season’s campaign was a testament to the talent, perseverance, and community spirit of the Burdekin Wildcats U12 Boys, who have certainly made their mark on the state basketball scene.
Contributed with thanks to Danny & Marisa O'Shea.
Coach Amy Chandler and assistant coach Lauren Roncato with the U12 Burdekin Wildcats team!