E Bowden
Years ago
Thanks Tony Casella and the SA U20 mens
Well done Tony and the SA U20 boys. And for those of you not at the games, go check out the stats properly before posting - and even then you won't have the full story on the coach or the TEAM effort.
Australia currently has a stunning array of good national players most of whom have had the benefit of Australian tax payer dollars in their game development, (daily training, playing, etc). NSW and VIC each fielded five of these players (one of whom is a professional ball player who trains 24/7 with men) whereas we fronted up with a number of newbies all of whom punched well above their weight in this particular contest. Well done you guys for your bronze against a rare combo of stunning Australian talent!
Our boys kept the NSW dream team coached by the Australian coach to a narrow win first time around (a game that was winnable) and then turned the tables for the bronze with some fierce defensive play that saw Aldridge almost shut down and other key players struggling for most of the game. Sure NSW came back, but hats off to our kids for holding their nerve and taking the game out, they ALL played fierce and deserve a lot of credit for standing up after the fierce disappointment of the previous day. And if Mitch Creek hadn’t been flown in mid week by the Vics and had a late in the game surge, well who knows? Most of these players won’t be around next year!!
For the Casella knockers, it did not appear he was relying on perimeter shooting at all, although Hooley, Codey and Isaah seemed to be the goto men for the 3. Tony adapted his coaching astutely to the different challenges (Tas gave frights aplenty this year) and given the limited preparation, the way the team gelled is a credit to him, not to mention he is really popular with this team.
Some highlights that won’t show up on the stats:
The relentless workhorse combo of Hooley and Spehr - great understanding between those two
Some great dunks by Dan off fast break dymo passes
Lachie Prest for doing everything that was asked of him with injury limitations that would have stopped a lesser player
Marriott for showing his fiercest face to NSW in the last game. Downed by a flying swatman early in the game, but got back in and rattled the hell out of them with his sheer agility and big body blocks.
Codey Ellison for being a standout player with huge potential and a good good shot
Isaah O for some hot, hot shooting and some body rhumba to match it – hope for the future with this kid developing fast
Spehr for running the ball for 99% of every game safely, unselfishly and intelligently, with some high value shooting and assists, grand larceny steals and relentless defensive hassle in the mix - all with a virus to boot
And all the new kids on the block, who weren’t totally overawed by some daunting oppostion, well done.
Thanks all for a great effort and for those of you who didn’t smash it on the boards this time around, remember it’s a team game and you all played a part in the scoring in one way or a another!!
(Before you knock me for chapter and verse, I am SA proud so don't give a hootie's)
