What is ACJBC ?

Australian Country Junior Basketball Cup

Isaac, can you rename this to read Aus Junior Country Cup or something please?

2015 Country Cup would do nicely.

Used to be a really good junior tournament, but has progressed into a second rate 'fun' tournament these days! States don't send there best possible teams leading to one sided results! A long way to go for a fun based carnival if you asked me!

^ YES

Very true! SAC have in fact sent their second best under 15 teams in the girls and boys with the best 4-5 players going to country cup with the U16 teams instead of going to Knox.
I would say the 16's will be full on!!

Doubt the U16's will be full on! Quite the opposite really!! SAC u16 girls played each other in the GF last year so if you add the best bottom age players into those two teams (last year the best bottom age kids went to Melbourne) then you would expect even greater winning margins for SAC which highlights the continuing fact that the level of competition is second rate!! When you play in last years tournament and your best competition comes from your own state when your not even sending your full strength teams (minus bottom age players) that just strengthens my statement!

About to leave now. Son in Vic Country U18s. Vic Country Teams are pretty even this year which will be interesting as in pool 2 there is only 4 Teams and 1 is the home town Gators Team. Not sure what to expect. I will try and give non-biased parent reports. So before the tolls start , yes I am a parent.

My bad, home team is Albury/Wodonga Wolves

14's will be ordinary! Unfortunately this is now like a "jamboree" type comp. Don't get me wrong, great for the kids but hardly a state tour team event.

Really interesting that SA seems to have gone against the grain selecting their best U15's to go to Albury and sending the leftovers to the SCC.
Given this the SA Country teams will be way out of their depth against the Vic Country and Metro teams, perhaps just below ACT teams.

Yep it's official, Vic Country no longer take this event seriously! Sad day to be a Victorian, once kings of the cup.
RIP VC

You are dead right! After watching today's games I think the only state that takes it serious anymore is SAC! NSW and VIC have worked it out that the best comp to send their u15 and u14 atheltes is in Melbourne! If the states main goal that are participating is to provide their atheltes the best possible developemnt tournament then Albury is sadly not it anymore!

Vic country 16 and 18 girls certainly looked serious today !

The coaches clinic last night was average and the coaches get together was appalling tonight.

Obviously those commenting on the un14s are new parents , wait till your kids get to top age 16s and 18s then it gets more serious. Your all complaining about 12 and 13 yr old CHILDRENwho are still years off being elite athletes if they ever get there. Let your children BE children and develop their talent if they have it. They should be playing for themselves and their teams NOT you. The 16 and 18 comps are exactly how they have always been strong and competitive.

Agreed that NSW and SA are fair dinkum it's just sad that Vic send Thor third and fourth best teams. They need to get rid of the Albury Woodonga teams, this is a waste of time! Perhaps do the unthinkable and invite select metro teams to beef up the competition?

Victoria do not send their third and fourth best teams in un16 andun18 only un14 and that is because the stronger teams in un14 go to southern cross challenge to play METRO teams so what would be the point in that. Their is a lot more to Albury than un14s in fact un14s has never been the main comp age at Albury as this age group is never up for any further selection for nationals where as un16 and 18 are being looked at for state consideration.

and that is the problem with this tournament. It was once a development tournament and a way for players to experience being away from mum and dad.

Fortunately U14s is still that.

Unfortunately the U16s is now a watch and see for who to invite for State selection and the U18s has become all about State selection. What then happens in this age group is selfish, need to stand out play. Where passing the ball to who you know and shooting the 3 is the name of the game.

Sorry but you are wrong as far as BVC concerned. Up until 2 years ago 30 boys and 30 girls attended a 3 day camp for U16 state selection. normally 20 top age and 10 bottom age. my son attended last camp in Ballarat 3 years ago.

His bottom age U18 year, 2 years ago he also had to attend Tryouts over a weekend after Country Champs held in February. Albury was just a Development Tournament.

Yes Albury is part of the process.
Last year and this year U18 age group is the only way to be selected. This is new.

Mark, Sam and Robbie have nothing to do with Country Basketball.

Coaches of NSW Country U18s and U16s (men and women) are all here watching players for possible selection in State teams (a couple of which are announced in the next 2 weeks). I think BNSW take it seriously enough to use it as a selection trial

^ exactly

Sam Gruggen - 2015 U18 NSW Metro Men's Head Coach

Seems to me like he is what you'd call a 'Metro Coach'

Ummm Nix - Sam IS the U/18 men NSW Metro head coach. Pretty sure this means he will not/cannot have any input into NSW Country!!

Surely it's not too hard to work out hey Nix??

And no, not bitter at all. The system is working great. Look at NSW Nationals results the past 2 years (particularly country). Just defending Mark, Sam and Robbie's absence from the cup this week

Where is Scott Balsar?

Had a falling out with some players in NSW Country Basketball so he no longer has anything to do with the tour. Sad really but I guess stuff happens

And by players I meant top officials/administrators not basketball players themselves

Scotty Balsar gone!!! What are NSW bball doing???
Is it just me or has there been too many quality experienced coaches across all states leave full time paid roles in junior basketball lately.
What's more disappointing is the common trend that basketball administrators who have no idea about basketball are forcing these people out of the game! When in most cases these 'basketball administrators' are only in their job short term and as a stepping stone to something better and don't really care about the game.
In the meantime driving passionate 'basketball people' out of the game!
Sadly as a parent it's our kids that suffer from this!!

We have an administrator that is a wiz on Facebook! Not much good at anything else, but great at posting photos.

All over for another year, great weather with mid 20's in stead of 40's, got to love that.

Well done to all the kids, parents, coaches and officials (organisers & referees).

Some age groups were a bit, 'what if' with kids rested because of ADC commitments, but nothing can be done about this I guess.

Tournament is still okay, but over zealous supervisors taking the 'no tripods' rule too far need to pull their heads in a bit and understand parents are not the enemy!

Tasmania needs to get back into all age groups and for god's sake develop a green uniform not that disgusting lemon that clashes with gold of Vic.

The Kiwi's had some strong showing this year and will be a massive dark horse at U/18 Nationals I predict.

Closing ceremony was once again far too long, this is the most hated part of the event by all concerned every year, once again probably can't do anything :(

Rain! Well this was a new one and caused some game shifts due to wet courts, maybe the two stadiums can get the roofs fixed before next year (doubt it)!?

Food and drink canteen on final day is not enough, maybe someone would like to do a sausage sizzle outside for a few hours to raise some $$$ for their club and reduce very long queues?

Rating 6.5/10

@ parent who attended.
How was the basketball ?

There were some massive margins in some of the games, that can't be good for the development. Are some groups that far off the pace?