Albany Basketball Association name two strong A-grade teams for Basketball WA Senior Country Championships

Albany Basketball Association captains Luke McGuire and Indi Weeden believe their teams have what it takes to be successful at the Basketball WA Senior Country Championships in Perth this weekend. A strong men’s side has been named as they look to add to their rich history at the tournament, while a youthful women’s team stacked with talent is hoping to rise to the top. Albany’s top men’s team has dominated the championship division in the past 15 years, and they begin their quest for a ninth title in that period on Saturday at Bendat Basketball Centre. Albany won five straight titles, from 2011-2015, and then defeated Bunbury by four points in 2018 before losing back-to-back grand finals in the past two years. However, they will look to add to their winning era this weekend and face Margaret River, Mandurah, Pinjarra and Esperance in their qualifying games. McGuire will captain the team before he departs the region and the key inclusions for the side this year are talls Luke Wilson and Hamish McMorran along with veteran Justin Benson. “We absolutely have what it takes to win, with lots of good athletes, who will put it all on the line,” McGuire said. “It is always a pleasure to captain a team, particularly Albany, on my last weekend involved in the program, hopefully we can perform and get a good result. “Obviously last year was disappointing but we were definitely better for it. “We were a very young team and still are, however a year of experience puts us in a good position to go one better. “We’ve had a huge addition in Luke Wilson, who will bring some height to the side and lots of experience and the usual suspects of Keanu Weeden and Kyle Smith will be key in helping us throughout the weekend.” Indi Weeden will lead Albany’s top women’s side for the first time. Isabella De Giambattista, Brodie Dixon and Tay Weeden will all play in their first women’s championship campaign and Albany take on Busselton, Karratha, Esperance twice throughout the competition. “It’s definitely a privilege to be captain of the team; I am really excited for this weekend and with such a young and talented team, I’m really proud to lead them all on,” Indi Weeden said “I believe our team is very strong and talented and I think we will definitely put up a fight and be in the running to be champions this year.” Albany’s second men’s side will play in the combined division-one and two competition because of team nominations while they will also take a men’s division-three, division-four and masters side. In the women’s competition, Albany will also send a division-three and division-four side. ABA MEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP DIVISION Coach Grant Smith Luke McGuire (C) Mason Tion Keanu Weeden Henry Alforque Henrick Alforque Kyle Smith Ezra Marques Luke Wilson Hamish McMorran Justin Benson ABA WOMEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP DIVISION Coach Belinda Buitenhuis Indi Weeden (C) Tay Weeden Brodie Dixon Macy Lane Isabella De Giambattista Ella Scamozzi Alyssa Ward Narelle Colbung