E Bowden
Years ago

Thanks Tony Casella and the SA U20 mens

Well done Tony and the SA U20 boys. And for those of you not at the games, go check out the stats properly before posting - and even then you won't have the full story on the coach or the TEAM effort.

Australia currently has a stunning array of good national players most of whom have had the benefit of Australian tax payer dollars in their game development, (daily training, playing, etc). NSW and VIC each fielded five of these players (one of whom is a professional ball player who trains 24/7 with men) whereas we fronted up with a number of newbies all of whom punched well above their weight in this particular contest. Well done you guys for your bronze against a rare combo of stunning Australian talent!

Our boys kept the NSW dream team coached by the Australian coach to a narrow win first time around (a game that was winnable) and then turned the tables for the bronze with some fierce defensive play that saw Aldridge almost shut down and other key players struggling for most of the game. Sure NSW came back, but hats off to our kids for holding their nerve and taking the game out, they ALL played fierce and deserve a lot of credit for standing up after the fierce disappointment of the previous day. And if Mitch Creek hadn’t been flown in mid week by the Vics and had a late in the game surge, well who knows? Most of these players won’t be around next year!!

For the Casella knockers, it did not appear he was relying on perimeter shooting at all, although Hooley, Codey and Isaah seemed to be the goto men for the 3. Tony adapted his coaching astutely to the different challenges (Tas gave frights aplenty this year) and given the limited preparation, the way the team gelled is a credit to him, not to mention he is really popular with this team.

Some highlights that won’t show up on the stats:

The relentless workhorse combo of Hooley and Spehr - great understanding between those two
Some great dunks by Dan off fast break dymo passes
Lachie Prest for doing everything that was asked of him with injury limitations that would have stopped a lesser player
Marriott for showing his fiercest face to NSW in the last game. Downed by a flying swatman early in the game, but got back in and rattled the hell out of them with his sheer agility and big body blocks.
Codey Ellison for being a standout player with huge potential and a good good shot
Isaah O for some hot, hot shooting and some body rhumba to match it – hope for the future with this kid developing fast
Spehr for running the ball for 99% of every game safely, unselfishly and intelligently, with some high value shooting and assists, grand larceny steals and relentless defensive hassle in the mix - all with a virus to boot
And all the new kids on the block, who weren’t totally overawed by some daunting oppostion, well done.

Thanks all for a great effort and for those of you who didn’t smash it on the boards this time around, remember it’s a team game and you all played a part in the scoring in one way or a another!!

(Before you knock me for chapter and verse, I am SA proud so don't give a hootie's)

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hanging round  
Years ago

Great wrap-up. Well done
You will be taking over from Jack Toft soon

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KingJames  
Years ago

Sounds like a great effort!

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doddobird  
Years ago

Something good about a coach on Hoops SA. Good job "E Bowden"!

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Anonymous  
Years ago

Is that you, Justin Wilkie?

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Anonymous  
Years ago

Written by his grand ma

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I was there  
Years ago

Very concise report of the tournament.

The last game was one of the best defensive shut downs of a team by SA over NSW I have seen. They have the Emus coach and 5 Emus members and SA shut them down for a gutsy win and Bronze.

Bronze is actually the best this group has achieved in this competition and if not for a few minutes against VIC in the Semi in the last quarter when they shot 4 3s to get away, we may have given them a big scare. In alternate years they have done better but not by a lot.

To the knockers, the stats don't show enough. Those that were there saw Marriott turn drive after drive and create many turnovers that don't show up on the sheet. He was not alone but made the win possible.

Well done Tony and the team.

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Anonymous  
Years ago

the sa team won silver last year

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basketball taxi  
Years ago

EASILY PLEASED!!!

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Anon  
Years ago


Very pleased thanka U and as I recall, the team that won the silver last year had a dismal showing their first year out (was it 5 or 6?)

The Australian contingent toured three continents last year playing against international pro's in some cases, so their development was intense last year.

Compare apples with applies and give the kids some credit where it's due OR swing out of town in your Taxi you Poxy Moron!!!

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