PORT Macquarie quartet Sam Blain, Blake Collins and Hayley Eggleton will all compete at the prestigious Southern Cross Challenge in March.
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The teenagers will represent Port Macquarie at the development tournament run by Basketball Victoria which gives elite junior players the opportunity to compete against other development squads from around the country.
Port Macquarie Basketball Association secretary Nicole Galea said the tournament has continued to grow since its inception in 2012.
It now involves under-14 and under-15 boys and girls teams from both country and metro areas of Victoria, Western Australia, South Australia and the ACT.
"It also allows coaches and athletes to gain experience in high-level tournament play which prepares them for potential involvement in state teams in the future," Galea said.
Galea said their selection was further positive signs that basketball in Port Macquarie continued to improve and develop.
"Participating in an elite tournament such as this provides the opportunity for personal growth and further development of skills which will benefit our local competition," she said.
"These juniors will increase in confidence and leadership skills."
The most pleasing aspect about having local representation in the SCC meant Port Macquarie Basketball Association were "doing something right".
"PMBA athletes are developing and excelling in our local competitions and representative programs," Galea said.
"It leads to an unprecedented number of athletes being selected to Basketball NSW High Performance programs which is very encouraging.
"There is a lot of talent in Port Macquarie."
Joining Blain, Collins and Eggleton in representative duties are Toby Harper (under-15 boys), Hamish Harper (under-17 boys), Caleb Prior (under-17 boys), Ella Handley (under-17 girls), Prada Hanlan (under-17 girls) and Monique Rudder (under-17 girls) at the country development tournament in Newcastle in January.
Kaden Lawler (under-14 boys), Noah Pagotto (under-16 boys), Alice Hillsdon (under-16 girls), Chloe Hanlan (under-16 girls), Phailin McKibbin (under-16 girls) and Maddi Baxter (under-18 girls) will head to the Australian Country Junior Basketball Cup at Albury in January.
Maddi Baxter has also been selected in the under-18 Country state squad while she has also been selected in the state performance program alongside Hayley Eggleton.
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