Basketball is thriving in the Mackay region after St Patrick’s College brought home the Boys and Girls trophies from the Champion Basketball School of Queensland tournament on the Gold Coast.
With Mackay coaching guru Jamiey Douvendans at the helm, the College showcased its current crop of emerging talent with skilful performances at the prestigious event at Coomera Indoor Sports Centre.
Regarded as the premier school basketball tournament in Queensland, St Patrick’s trophy double in the Senior Secondary Schools Division Two categories is a huge fillip for the sport in the Mackay area and major boost for the Meteors and Meteorettes franchises.
Douvendans and assistant Rachel McKenzie praised the efforts of the gold medal-winning St Patrick’s Boys and Girls squads who produced top-class displays to finish the tournament undefeated.
In the Senior Boys final, St Patrick’s toppled Cleveland District State High School 66-61 with Meteors’ NBL1 North rookies Amarco Doyle (29 points) and Max Cain (18) leading the way.
St Patrick’s won all seven preliminary fixtures including victories over Palm Beach-Currumbin State High (104-27), Saint Stephens College (98-63) and Varsity College (75-70) in the finals series to top their Pool.
Other players to shine were Archie Howell, Baxter Nosworthy, Ben Devitt, Brock Crocker, Brody Robinson, Joshua Saunders and Seb Stehbens.
Emerging 14 year old guard Maggie Thorburn stamped herself a future star with a mercurial performance for St Patrick’s in the Senior Girls trophy decider.
Thorburn top scored with 18 points in the Mackay school’s decisive 56-43 victory over St James College with Meteorettes centre Charli Bliss contributing eleven points.
It was a mature showing by Thorburn, a Queensland North Under 16s representative, who will also line up for St Patrick’s at the Champion Basketball School of Queensland Junior tournament next month.
Promising Meteorettes guards Hannah Jensen (11 points) and Mackensie Brown also demonstrated their skills along with Amelia Crouch, Jessica Harris, Mia Young and Ruby Crouch.
St Patrick’s topped their Pool on 21 points from seven victories with Matthew Flinders Anglican School, Trinity College Beenleigh and St James College finishing on 19 points each.
In the finals series the Mackay hoopers eclipsed Somerset College (69-22), St Columban’s College (65-33) and Mansfield State High School (59-37).
By Chris Karas
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