Port Macquarie basketballers are in the spotlight after taking part in the Australian Country Junior Basketball Cup (ACJBC).
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The cup is held from January 11 to 18 in Albury and was first founded in 1985 to select promising basketball players from New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia.
Port Macquarie Dolphins players Kaden Lawler, Noah Pagotto, Chloe Hanlan, Alice Hillsdon, Phailin McKibbin and Maddison Baxter were selected for the ACJBC after high performance trials in September 2019.
Port Macquarie Basketball Association secretary Nicole Galea said this is the biggest group of players sent from Port Macquarie.
"This year was the largest contingency of athletes that we have had from PMBA being selected to attend," she said.
"Our athletes have to compete in the trials at the NSW high performance trials among other athletes and then they are selected to attend this event. It shows that our programs are development focused and paying off.
"Our athletes get good quality coaching, they are being noticed and being selected."
Port Macquarie basketballer Hayley Eggleton has previously been selected in 2019 and went on to compete in the Australian Country under-14 representative basketball side in New Zealand.
"It's a good opportunity for exposure and from this event some athletes may be selected for trials in New Zealand," said Galea.
"During the tournament they are learning different training methods and learning about elite competition.
"They can also come back with that elite training to help their representative teams at home."
PMBA referee Erik Ralph and referee coordinator Andre Caltabiano also officiated at the ACJBC in Albury.
PMBA's Sam Blain and Blake Collins were selected to appear at the Southern Cross Challenge in Knox, Victoria during the same week.
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