THE Hawkesbury has been assured of hosting more Basketball New South Wales events after serving as the base for the State Championships at the weekend.
The best underage teams New South Wales has to offer were at the Hawkesbury Indoor Sports Stadium on Saturday and Sunday to compete for the crown for the best team in their age group.
Basketball New South Wales was reportedly very impressed with the way things were run throughout the event.
There were 64 teams competing at the two-day tournament, and each of those teams brought a number of supporters and support staff with them.
Hawkesbury and Districts Basketball Association Peter Herrmann said that at one point it was standing room only in the stadium.
Mr Herrmann said he was very pleased things went off without a hitch, given it was the first time the association had hosted an event of such scale.
‘‘We got some very good feedback from Basketball NSW, who were very happy with how it was run,’’ he said.
‘‘Our stadium is as good as anywhere in Sydney and our administration was good and there aren’t too many six court stadiums around.
‘‘They have told us we will get some big tournaments next year.’’
Mr Herrmann said the quality of play at the tournament was outstanding. He said he spotted former West Sydney Razorbacks coach Robbie Cadee coaching a team, as well as Jaimee Kennedy, who has played for the Sydney Flames.
‘‘There are certainly players out of this who will end up playing college basketball in the US. I have no doubt about that,’’ he said.
Mr Herrmann estimated there would have been about 3000 people at the stadium over the weekend.
‘‘We are chuffed. It was an opportunity for us to show we can handle the big events.’’
In the under-18s, Hills Hornets won the boys and Norths Bears won the girls.
In the under-16s, Illawarra Hawks won the boys and Penrith Panthers won the girls.
