Cream of the Crop in Surf Life Saving

Two of the Illawarra’s finest youths have been recognised for their contribution to Surf Life Saving with the highest accolade the region’s Junior Life Savers can achieve.

Jake Green from Thirroul Surf Life Saving Club and Alana Humphries from Helensburgh-Stanwell Park Surf Life Saving Club were named the male and female winners respectively of the 2009 Illawarra McDonald’s Junior Life Saver of The Year.

Both Jake and Alana are now in contention for the title of New South Wales Junior Life Saver of The Year, which will be announced at the New South Wales Age Championship held at Blacksmiths beach in late February.

Alana who is one of Helensburgh Stanwell Park’s finest competitors said “I didn’t expect to win the award, all the nominees do great things for their clubs and just to be nominated was good enough for me”.

Jake, 13, is one of the most active junior members in his club said “This means a lot to me, I love everything that being involved in Surf Life Saving offers, I can’t think of a better thing to do, helping others while spending time at the beach with all my friends.”

The male and female McDonald’s Junior Life Savers of The Year were chosen from nominees representing the 17 Illawarra clubs. Nominees were each interviewed by a panel of experienced life savers, on categories such as contribution to Surf Life Saving, demonstration of leadership, awards received in Surf Life Saving and community involvement outside Surf Life Saving.

“The McDonalds’ Junior Life Saver of the Year awards are the highest accolade in the junior movement of our organisation” said Amanda Scott, Development Officer Surf Life Saving Illawarra.

“Jake and Alana have shown a dedicated and on going contribution to the community and there is no doubt they will go on to become future leaders in Surf Life Saving, as well as whatever other endeavours they choose to pursue. They are a true credit to our organisation and deserve the highest praise for their achievements” added Ms Scott.

Illawarra junior in Aussie Girls gold medal winning basketball team

Australia's young women's basketball team, containing Illawarra Hawks junior representative Cassandra Mangos overpowered Japan last Saturday to claim the Gold Medal at the Australian Youth Olympic Festival in Sydney.

Photos of Cassandra Mangos in action for Australia (www.photoexcellence.com.au)

Australia used its superior size and speed to outgun and outrun its Japanese opponent to lead 51-18 at half time before continuing on to a 37-point victory. The 91-54 win maintained Australia's unbeaten tournament run with preliminary round wins against New Zealand, China and Japan by 50, 17 and 28 points.

Starting guard Rebecca Cole completed a first rate tournament with 17 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists to lead Australia while crowd favourite Gretel Tippett had a fantastic all-around game to finish with 16 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists, 4 steals and 2 blocks. Naho Miyoshi and Aya Tsurumi paced Japan with 10 points apiece.

Reserve forwards Rebecca Allen and Allyson Brown were outstanding off the bench for Australia. Allen compiled 12 points on 6-of-8 shooting, a game high 15 rebounds and 3 steals in 19 minutes on court while Brown had 14 points on 6-of-7 shooting with 5 rebounds in 13 minutes on court.

"It was a great win and something the girls deserved," Australia's head coach Nicole Ireland said. "They've been so focused and disciplined for nearly two weeks now with the camp and then the tournament and today I think we played the best game of our tournament; just team work, inside-outside play and our defence.”

"It got a bit scrappy at the end but for three quarters or even more of that game we really stuck with what we needed to do defensively. They really got up for the Gold Medal game."

Tippett got Australia's scoring underway close to the basket in the opening minute before Aoi Katsura tied the score with a deft spin move in the paint. Brown came off the bench and hit her first three shots, Japan struggled against Australia's zone and after one period Australia led 25-9.

Australia's back court combination Cole and Kerryn Harrington had the team running beautifully in the second quarter and when Tippett blocked a shot and Jillian Haughton finished down the other end of the floor with a finger roll in traffic the rout was on.

Australia led 51-18 at half time behind Cole's 13 points, 4 rebounds and 3 assists, Brown's 9 points off the bench and Tippett's 8 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 blocks while Japan's pint sized offensive machine Aoi Katsuri had only 2 points on 1-of-5 shooting.

Japan scored the opening five points of the second half and looked ready to step up to the challenge at hand but Australia continued to push the ball and when a bone-jarring legal screen by Tippett cleaned up Asami Chiku in the back court the physical challenge was won.

Down by thirty-nine points with ten minutes to play, Japan continued to persevere until the inevitable end and won the last quarter by two points.
Australia also took out the men’s title defeating China in the final

NSW Contingent in Australian Men’s and Women’s teams: Back Row - Jackson Aldridge (Norths), Daniel Trist (Norths), Sam Rowley (Norths)
Front Row - Lauren Nicholson (Sutherland), Ashleigh Karaitiana (Sydney City), Allyson Brown (Hills District), Cassandra Mangos (Illawarra) – photo from www.photoexcellence.com.au

Starters:
AUS: Harrington, Cole, Karaitiana, Tippett, Payne
CHN: Katsura, Chiku, Tsurumi, Nagaoka, Chikahira

Quarter by quarter:
1: AUS 25 JPN 9; H: AUS 51 JPN 18 (26-9); 3: AUS 71 JPN 32 (20-14); F: AUS 91 JPN 54 (20-22)

AUSTRALIA 91 - Rebecca Cole 17, Gretel Tippett 16, Allyson Brown 14 bt
JAPAN 54 - Naho Miyoshi 10, Aya Tsurumi 10, Mika Nozoe 8

For reports of all women’s and men’s games go to: http://wollongong.sportslive.com.au/index.pl?page=3380

Vics secure second place over NSW in Claxton Shield

Victoria has qualified in second place after defeating NSW 2 games to one in round 6 last weekend in the interstate Claxton Sheld.

NSW won the first game 2 - 1 but then Victoria came out all guns blazing to win games 2 and 3 by 13 - 7 and 12 - 2 respectively.

The result means that NSW finished third behind the Vics and top placed Perth Heat. The local members of the NSW team are Trent D'Antonio and Tim Atherton.

The semi-final between NSW and Victoria is now to be played in Melbourne in a best of three series between January 23 and 25. The winner will meet Perth in a best of three series from February 6 to 8 for the Claxton Shield title.

SportsLive observes Kerry O’Keeffe’s “gift” to disabled cricket fans

At the recent Sydney cricket test between South Africa and Australia, your SportsLive editor witnessed an exceptional act by former Australian test player and now ABC commentator Kerry O’Keeffe. It was not his funny laugh or sometimes insightful cricket comments but the way he interacted with wheelchair bound fans at the SCG.

He visited the M A Noble stand disabled section to see a former neighbor and school friend (now in a wheelchair) whom he practised cricket with as a young teenager – Terry is mentioned in his first book. He then spent quite a while (yes, well into his lunch break) talking to other young wheelchair fans who were thrilled with the experience. Many photos were taken as well including with some young attractive ladies who joined the group. (Sportslive wonders if the Skull is to become the new sex symbol for the ABC??)

Kerry then mentioned the names of some of the young disabled fans when he was next on the ABC – to their delight. All in all he was a real hit because of the time he spent, his openness and there was no fee involved!

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