500th milestone to remember

By Justin Robertson
NARRE WARREN’S Michael Klose has achieved what many players in basketball have not.
Over the course of his 12-year career in the Dandenong Basketball Association, at just 17 years of age, he recently walked onto the court against the Dandenong Saints for his 500th game with his club the Oatlander Outlaws.
He’s the first player at his club to achieve the milestone and Klose said he doesn’t know of any other players within the league to accomplish the feat.
“There are not too many players around that I started with in under-9s, so it’s possible I could be the first player to reach 500,” he said. “I’ve been playing at the same club for 12 years now and it’s pretty special.”
On the day of his 500th game, Outlaws club committee member, Peter Rymer said there were more than 100 people who came to show their support for Klose.
“Yeah it was a great day for him, the longevity of his achievement is fantastic,” he said. “He deserves it. It’s such a significant milestone for him.”
During his time with the Outlaws Klose has been involved in 16 grand finals, winning 10 and losing six and said his under-16 A Grade final – where he scored 24 points – was one of his most memorable games.
Klose started at the club as a five year-old and has now developed into a representative player for the Dandenong Ranges, who he’s been involved with over the past eight years.
With no chance of hitting the 1000-game mark – as clubs stop counting once you’ve graduated into the senior competition – Klose said he’s been able to stick with the one club because of its people.
“The club is great, the people treat you well and I’ve had some really good coaches in the past,” he said. “It really does make you want to stick around.”