14 SPORT
THURSDAY 23 FEBRUARY 2023 TORRES NEWS
Community basketball league back for 2023! BY VELMA GARA PICS BY KIWAT ABEDNEGO, KAREN KEANE, MATILDA LOBAN The Torres Strait region launched its Indigenous Community Basketball League (ICBL) with an opening ceremony and the first round of games last weekend. Eight teams participated at the Torres Shire Sports Complex, with 14-year-old boys and girls teams each named Zey, NayGay, Kuki and Sager respectively. Torres Strait and South Australia were the last two regions to tip off in the competition, joining Northern Territory Metro / Queensland North / Queensland South / Victoria / Western Australia and New South Wales. Part of Indigenous Basketball Association, which delivers programs for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people, the launch marked the start of ICBL’s third year. Every player has an opportunity to be selected to compete at the National Indigenous Basketball Tournament in April. The opening ceremony included an opening prayer by Fr Charlie Loban and a welcome to country by Elsie Seriat and Tagai Secondary Campus representative Matilda Loban.
Pledges were made by Deb Lui, Nay Binawel, Micaree Binawel and Karen Keane. Kailu Luffman was the Master of Ceremony and then refereed games. Entertainment was provided by the Island Stars Dance Team. Torres Strait ICBL coordinator Michael Loban said he wanted to thank everyone for their support and making the day a success. “Transport was provided by Aunty Joanne Savage and Uncle Yen Loban,” Michael said. “Thanks to them for looking after the Horn Island players.”
Torres Strait ICBL Players.
Results of Round 1 Games played on Sunday 19 February 2023 KUKI 38 def SAGER 27 (Boys) NAYGAY 28 lost to ZET 38 (Girls)
TOP LEFT – Action in one of the girls’ games. LEFT – Action in one of the boys’ games. ABOVE – Referees Kiwat Abednego, Tamika MillsSabatino, Cedella Gaidan & Kailu Luffman. BELOW – Island Stars Dance Team performing at the opening ceremony.
KUKI 29 def SAGER 19 (Girls) ZEY 27 def NAYGAY 21 (Boys)
Elsie Seriat & Matilda Loban.
Round 2 Games – Sunday 26 February 2023 12pm -12:45pm Island Dance Practice 1pm ZEY vs KUKI (Girls) 2pm ZEY vs KUKI (Boys) 3pm NAYGAY vs SAGER (Girls) 4pm NAYGAY vs SAGER (Boys)
Harry Newie & Joey Laifoo (Island Stars Dance Team).
Taipans season finishes up - but oh, how they played! BY VELMA GARA
IN SYDNEY: Keanu Pinder and Adam Forde face the media after the third and final game on Sunday. Pic supplied.
A depleted Cairns Taipans fought gallantly in the decider semi-final game played on Sunday against Sydney Kings, but it wasn’t enough and they lost 64 to 79. Missing key players due to injury – Shannon Scott (hamstring) and Keanu Pinder (eye) – didn’t help their cause but playing five games in 10 days took its toll. Pinder said he had wanted to play the decider playoff game but wasn’t allowed to. “Not being out there hurt more than I thought it would,” he said. “If we had won this game, I would have been
able to come back to play the Grand Final so I was looking forward to that.” Taipans Coach, Adam Forde, said he was disappointed their season had come to an end, but not with how they played. “It’s been a hell of a schedule and a hell of a run,” he said. “We were just running off adrenaline at the start, but you could see with how that fourth quarter went – missing layups, missing foul shots and had turnovers, it was signs of fatigue.” Ben Ayres had 20 points and Sam Waardenburg with 17 points and 12 rebounds. Taipans 2022/2023 season standing – 28 games; 18 wins and 10 losses.
