Cathy Edwards (Manager), Amelia Hassett, Alex Oliver, Ruby Watterson, Abbey Reinhold, Rob Edwards (Coach). Front row, Sam Graham, Madge Commins, Ella Day.
Cootamundra Junior Basketball Association is finishing 2020 strongly with the Coota Cougars girls side winning the Metro Challenge Championships last weekend. With a total of four teams and games played over Saturday and Sunday, the Cougars went undefeated at the tournament which was played at Hawkesbury Indoor Stadium in South Windsor. The first game saw the girls over come Bathurst Goldminers 85 to 46 and the dominant form was continued in the second game against Springwood Scorchers 101 to 38. Moss Vale Magic was the third fixture and the girls overcame that comfortably in a 72 to 48 victory.
The grand final saw the Cougars up against the Goldminers and their opposition fought tooth-and-nail to stay within the contest in what was witnessed as a tight first quarter. However, the Coota girls ensured they finished the weekend strongly when they kept their opposition at bay to only eight points in the second quarter. The Cougars never looked back in the final two quarters with a final score of 91 to 41.
Club President Leanne Nixon said she was really proud of the girls’ efforts and is excited for 2021. “It’s so good to get away and actually play and catch up with friends. To come away with the win was a bonus too,” she said. “We’re hoping to nominate for the Junior Premier League in 2021 and currently waiting to hear back from NSW Basketball to confirm our nomination. “For us, this will be a step up into the next division.” Last weekend was the Cougars first competitive outing in 2020 since round one of the Western Junior League Division in February.
The girls only began training in Wagga for the previous two Mondays prior to the championships. In other exciting club news, Alex Oliver and Amelia Hassett have both made the under 18s state squad and are set to feature in this weekend’s D League competition. The tournament is played over two weekends and it features the top country and metro girls in the state. Christopher Tan