Young gun to be tested at nationals

Emerging Albany basketballer Matt Leary will pull on the WA State colours for a second successive year next week when he is part of WA Country’s title bid at the 2016 Under-18 Australian Junior Championships in Adelaide.

Leary last year played for WA Country who went winless at the under-16 national championships but the athletic point-guard knows he will need to rise to another level starting next Saturday in order to help his side to a successful tournament.

Drawn in what many have dubbed “the pool of death” against Victoria Metro, New South Wales Metro, South Australia Metro, Queensland South, Northern Territory and Tasmania, Leary said it had been an exhaustive and rewarding selection process.

“We started with 41 (players) at the first trial,” Leary said.

“Over a three to four-month period that has been cut down to a 10-man squad.

“Going to the 16s last year I definitely feel more confident knowing what to expect but the difference between 16s and 18s is going to be big.

“I’m keen to get away and get stuck into it.”

The 16-year-old, fresh off winning the local men’s A-grade premiership with Raiders where he was named most valuable player in the grand final, was expecting to play a shutdown role at the championships.

“I will play a lockdown, defensive role instead of an offensive role,” he said.

“Which I don’t mind, its good fun.

“Our coaches have said to us it’s good to be the underdog and take it on, we have no pressure on us and we can just go out and prove everyone wrong.”

Fellow Albany player John Murray was named initially as a reserve in the team but no changes have been made to the original squad of 10.