Foursome fly flag for WA

Four young Great Southern basketball players will pull on the WA colours next week when they take part in the annual Southern Cross Challenge in Victoria, comprising teams from around the country.

Albany trio Matthew Jerrard, Valerie Corbett and Tayeesha Weeden, along with Mt Barker’s Margie Jones, will play for WA Country in their respective age groups at the tournament, to be held from January 18-22.

Tayeesha will be playing for the second straight year as she steps up to the under-15 women’s side alongside Valerie, and Albany’s Jody Ironmonger is the team manager.

Matthew will be part of the under-14 men’s team and Margie will be in the under-14 women’s side.

Margie is the youngest local representative at 12 and Matthew celebrates his 13th birthday this week. The local contingent have been training hard for months with regular trips to Perth ahead of the national tournament, and all play in the Albany Basketball Association.

The carnival will be played at the State Basketball centre in Knox.

Pool games start on January 19 and the finals will be held on January 21.