🏀 What a Fantastic Week of School Holiday Basketball! 🏀

Across two school holiday clinics, we welcomed 37 young players, with 21 U10s taking to the court on Tuesday and 16 U12s joining us on Thursday.

It was fantastic to see so many kids spending part of their school holidays developing their skills, building confidence, making new friends and, most importantly, having fun.

On Tuesday, our U10 players were treated to a very special experience, learning from Knox Raiders NBL1 stars Haleigh, Brandon and Kobe. From fundamental skills through to the famous Raider Nation Viking Clap, the kids created memories they'll be talking about for a long time.

On Thursday, despite the cold and rainy Emerald weather, Pakenham Warriors NBL1 stars Bridget and Tazsa made the trip to deliver an outstanding clinic for our U12s. Their enthusiasm and energy were infectious, and after working through a range of skills, the players finished the day with a spirited scrimmage where they could put everything they'd learnt into practice.

A huge thank you to all of our guest coaches for giving up your time to inspire the next generation of basketballers. Your generosity, knowledge and passion for the game made these clinics incredibly special.

We also want to recognise our own junior coaches, D'Art, Storm, Knox and Bonnie. While everyone saw them coaching on the day, there was plenty happening behind the scenes. They helped plan the sessions, organise activities, set up the stadium, prepare equipment and ensure each clinic ran smoothly from start to finish.

Many of these young coaches backed up their week by heading straight into representative tournaments and their own basketball commitments, yet they still gave their time to help develop the next group of Lakers. As they begin their own coaching journeys, they're already demonstrating the leadership, commitment and passion that make our club so special.

Finally, thank you to all of our volunteers, parents and families for your support. Community basketball only works because people are willing to roll up their sleeves and help, and these clinics were another great example of that.

Based on this week's response, we're hoping to make our school holiday clinics a regular part of the Emerald Lakers calendar.

See you all back on court soon! 💚🏀