The future of Mackay Basketball's QBL programs will be on show this weekend when the under 23 Meteors & under 21 Meteorettes head to Townsville for the first round of the Tropical Youth League.

 

The two Mackay sides will face off against opposing teams from both Cairns and Townsville, in the first of three tournaments that will be conducted between October to December.

 

The under 23 Meteors go in to the Tropical Youth League as defending champions after going undefeated through the 2010 competition under then Head Coach Grant Kruger.

 

2011 Meteors under 23 Head Coach Joel Khalu said the team has the goal of achieving the same result again this year.

 

"There's no doubt that we definitely want to go win this thing again," Khalu said.

 

"It will be a big challenge for the boys, especially with both Townsville and Cairns being a lot better this year, but I am confident in the abilities of our playing group."

 

"Guys like Luke Harvey & Sam Bartolo definitely improved throughout this years successful senior QBL campaign, and there are also a lot of returning players from last years team including Morgan Anderson, Hayden Wicks & Mitch Gamblin that are hungry to repeat," Khalu added.

 

The under 21 Meteorettes will also need to bring their A-game when they take on the Townsville Flames and Cairns Dolphins this weekend.

 

The youthful Meteorettes will feature senior Global Product Search Meteorettes QBL players Rylie Smith, Miranda Thomas and Jessica Healy and Khalu said the girls will have a point to prove after finishing behind Townsville last year.

 

"The girls have been training extremely hard in the lead up to this first tournament and I know they are keen to get out on the floor and battle with both northern rivals," Khalu said.

 

"Rylie is coming of a fantastic QBL season and I think she will definitely be a player to watch this weekend,"  Khalu added.

 

Tropical Youth League games tip-off on Saturday morning and conclude on Sunday.

For more information please contact Mackay Basketball General Manager Joel Khalu on 4957-5543.

 

Under 23 Mackay Meteors:

 

Sam Bartolo

Hayden Wicks

Mitchell Gamblin

Morgan Andersen

Luke Harvey

Jaebyn Drefke

Justin Black

Mitchell Pollock

Mitchell Cameron

Joshua Eatcott

 

Under 21 Mackay Meteorettes

 

Jessica Healy

Darci Cousins

Carly Fair

Danielle Fair

Chantal Thomas

Miranda Thomas

Rachel McKenzie

Rylie Smith

Sabrina Peterson

Jade Dempsey

 

Game Times:

 

Saturday, October 15

 

10:00am:  Mackay Meteors v Cairns Marlins

 

1:45pm: Mackay Meteors v Townsville Heat

 

3:30pm: Mackay Meteorettes v Cairns Dolphins

 

7:15pm:  Mackay Meteorettes v Townsville Flames

 

Sunday, October 16

 

9:30am:  Mackay Meteors V Cairns Marlins

 

11:15am :   Mackay Meteorettes V Cairns Dolphins