The Hawthorn Basketball Association (HBA) was last week recognised as having the pinnacle junior program in the State at the annual Basketball Victoria (BV) Awards Night following the outstanding success of the Hawthorn Magic Junior Representative Program in 2018.
The annual BV Awards Night recognises outstanding individual, team and association success, and also acknowledges the services and contribution of the incredible volunteers who make the sport of basketball so great.
The HBA was named the 2018 Junior Program of the Year thanks, in part, to the following achievements.
– 42 teams competed in 2017/18 Victorian Junior Basketball League (VJBL) competition (Elite Junior Representative Competition);
– All 1st teams made 2017/18 VJBL Championship Division (VC);
– Most teams that made it into the Top 4 in 2017/18 VJBL VC Division (5 teams);
– Most teams that made it into the Top 4 at 2018 National Junior Classic Tournament (5 teams);
– 21 athletes made Basketball Victoria Identification Program – Southern Cross Challenge teams (18 Metro, 3 Country);
– Multiple athletes selected in Victorian State Teams (National Championships);
– Multiple coaches actively involved in Basketball Victoria High Performance Programs;
– 30% growth in Development Squad and Rep Ready Programs;
– Consistent 2-3% growth year on year in female participation rate, bucking the declining national trend, and achieving 45% female participation among junior players.
The award was also recognition for the sustained success of the Program over the last 3-4 years, and the desire to secure the best quality coaches available, led by Boys Head Coach Shawn King and Girls Head Coach Michael Dimattina,
The HBA general manager, Brock Rogers, said: “The HBA would like to acknowledge the contribution of the Junior Magic committee, coaches, team managers, and players who continue to make the Hawthorn Magic Junior Representative Program a fun, safe and positive environment to develop athletes on and off the court”.
“We are keen to re-capture the award by going back-to-back next year, and have started the 2018/19 VJBL season strongly with an equal best 10 teams qualifying for VC Divisions (the most in Program history), a record number of teams competing in the VJBL (including 8 teams in Under 14 Boys), and multiple athletes again being chosen for Basketball Victoria teams and programs.”
Mr Rogers said the HBA would also roll out a number of new initiatives in 2019, including a range of athlete well-being and educational seminars, extra School Holiday clinics, and new skills acquisition programs”.
“We would also like to acknowledge all other nominees and award winners, in particular Eltham Basketball Association (Association of the Year), Darryl Neal and Dan Kirtley (Basketball Victoria Life Membership),” he said.
The next round of player try-outs for the Junior Magic Program will take place in October. For more information about the Program, please visit www.hawthornbasketball.com.au.
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For further information, please contact:
Brock Rogers
03 8529 4614 or gm@hawthornmagic.com.au.
