By JARROD POTTER
MOST junior basketball sides love a home-court advantage, but for a select group of Casey basketballers, there was an even better advantage on offer Saturday night.
Not many kids would expect to play basketball at Hisense Arena in front of 9000 people, but Casey Cavaliers under-14 (2) team was given an once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to play on one of Australia’s best courts.
A pre-season friendly between NBL Melbourne United and American college powerhouse Louisiana State University (LSU) on Saturday was not just a chance to see Victoria’s peak side in a practice match, but was also a chance for the two Victorian Junior Basketball League (VJBL) sides to play in a pre-match curtain-raiser.
The powers that be picked a VJBL Four quarter final between Casey Cavaliers’ under-14 (2) and Sandringham Sabres as that match, and the Cavaliers relished the chance to play on the show court -powering home to win the match 40-25.
At half time Casey and Sandringham returned to the court to assist Basketball Victoria in a special presentation to NBA champion and Aussie Boomer, local basketball’s top export Andrew Bogut.
The Cavs’ juniors advance to the semi-final to battle Ringwood … but this time on Friday night at Dandenong.
CASEY CAVALIERS UNDER-14 (2) BOYS: Heath Gilett, Riley Simmons, Nathan Dowsett, Cameron Graham, Matthew Hanley, Guandong Guandong, Mitchell Coburn, Lachlan Challis, Matthew McAuliffe, Blaine Mayo.
