Hundreds of young basketballers converge on Albany for Great Southern Basketball Carnival

More than 400 young basketballers from across the State flocked to Albany Leisure and Aquatic Centre over the weekend for the Great Southern Basketball Carnival. The carnival brought players from as far as the Kimberley to Albany to encourage and promote improved health among Indigenous Australians. Binar Futures organises the annual event that moves around the State each year to promote youth health and development among Indigenous children through sport, culture and connection to land. ALAC hosted a ‘health embassy’, enabling players to get advice and participate in health activities from organisations including St John and Asthma WA. Binar Futures CEO Roxy Bynder said the weekend was hugely successful, with “brilliant” engagement in health services from all players. “It was such a good weekend for so many people from across the State to come to Albany,” Ms Bynder said. “The health embassy had over 300 kids engaging with it and learning a lot about the different organisations and it was a great opportunity for not only Indigenous kids but locals from Albany to participate in as well. “The competition was played in such great spirit and it gave players the opportunity to play against kids they never would have played against.” Binar Red flexed their muscles in both under-18 boys and girls tournaments to claim grand final glory in undefeated tournaments. Sonics Blue put up a brave fight in the under-18 grand final but were ultimately no match for a polished Binar Red outfit, who prevailed 31-22. Binar Red claimed a stunning one-point victory in the under-18 girls derby grand final against Binar Blue. In the under-16 league, Binar Red won the boys competition against Team Mamba Heat, while Binar Blue smashed Barker 22-12 to win the girls. Albany’s Sonics claimed victory in the under-14 girls league after thumping Binar Black 26-10, while Kinjarling Dreamerz defeated Albany’s Barking Owls in the boys competition. Binar Red made light work of Barking Owls in the under-12 girls grand final, winning 22-4, and Binar Blue defeated Sonics 21-16 in the boys.