Young Moranbah basketballers attended a basketball holiday skills clinic in January with newly formed community sporting group Moranbah Mustangs Basketball.
Guest Coach Tamsyn Bock from Emerald put the kids aged 5-16 through a range of skill exercises in different court settings as well as fundamental drills in footwork, dribbling, shooting, passing and defence. The clinic was split into junior and senior age groups to ensure everyone was challenged and ready for the season ahead.
Newly established, the Moranbah Mustangs will enter their second season with a local junior competition held in Moranbah planned in the first school term of 2023.
Founder, Travis Fisher from Own the Rock has been working with the Moranbah community, players and parents to form a permanent club with the aim to see young players travelling to local district tournaments in Mackay and Emerald in the future.
Travis said, “I am passionate about seeing basketball flourish in these small rural towns. Last year I clocked up over 3000 kms travelling through rural and outback Queensland, from Brisbane up through Biloela and out as far as Hughenden.
“I was doing basketball clinics and recognised that there are just so many talented kids who love basketball and have no clubs around to support them. I started with Biloela, helping them get up and running and they have just become an incorporated club. Now I am working with the Moranbah community and am excited with the amount of kids turning up each week!
“It all comes down to volunteers and having a great coordinator to make it work. I have reached out to the other sporting clubs in town and made sure that we don’t clash with trainings and game times.
“Moranbah kids are really sporty and often play multiple sports and the Moranbah community is so great at working together and supporting each other. We are hoping to get some sponsors on board in 2023 and work with Emerald basketball to get some more clinics happening throughout the year.”
Basketball Australia reports that basketball has seen significant growth in recent years with 1.3 million people playing the sport in Australian in 2022. Not only is basketball a fun way for kids to stay active, it allows them to create lifelong friendships, learn teamwork and provides an outlet for all their energy!
