TWO of Griffith’s rising basketball stars have been named in their respective NSW Country squads, with Ellen John and Hannah Binks to line up next year at the Pacific Coast Slam and Australian Country Junior Basketball Cup tournaments.
The talented twosome were put through their paces in an intensive selection process last week, where they came up against more than 150 players from around the state vying for their place on the prestigious team.
For Ellen the news that she had made the 20-person under 17 girls side was something that she didn’t expect.
“I was pretty shocked when I saw that I was in the team, but I’m really happy to have made it,” Ellen said.
“The trials were really hard, we played three-on-three games and most of the other girls knew other players form other competitions, but all I had was Hannah who was in a different team.”
The latest honour is the highlight in the Marian Catholic Collage student’s career, having won MVP honours in the NSW Western Junior league and collecting a state title for her school at NSW PSSA.
The competition for places in Hannah’s under 18 girls side was equally fierce, with the majority of the squad coming from metropolitan areas.
Ellen thanked her coach Andrew Capello for
his efforts, saying his influence made a lasting impact.
“Fitness wise he really prepared us well, and got us ready for how hard it was going to be,” she said.
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