14 SPORT
Naygay champions in Torres Strait ICB comp
BY VELMA GARA PICS SUPPLIED BY KAREN KEANE Naygay Girls and Boys are the Indigenous Community Basketball League Under-14s champions of the Torres Strait competition for 2023. Due to forfeits by Kuki and Zey in the girls’ semifinals games, Naygay and Sager advanced to the grand finals. In the boys’ semifinals games, Zey defeated Sager – 55 to 33. Naygay was too strong for Kuki, winning their game – 54 to 14. It was a close girls’ game with Naygay winning against Sager by just two points – 48 to 46. Naygay boys had the momentum going into the grand final and defeated Zey – 51 to 22. Presentations were held after the grand finals games. Torres Strait Coordinator Mick Loban said Eso to all the players and their parents for their participation throughout the five weeks of the ICBL. He said also wanted to Eso for support the ICBL had received from community including: Uncle Yen Loban & Crew (Ferry service), Aunty Joanne Savage & Marypar Ware (Bus service), Lisa Nona, Karen Keane, Nancy Cook, Sammy Sabatino, (Volunteers), Marcella Mosby-Loban,
THURSDAY 30 MARCH 2023 TORRES NEWS
20 First Nations players in NBL1 teams BY VELMA GARA Several Torres Strait Islanders will play in this year’s NBL1 North competition. Torres News had a quick look at the rosters for NBL1 North teams and found there were at least 20 First Nations players participating in the 16-round competition. There are 16 club teams from across Queensland and over to Darwin, with Cairns
having the most First Nations players on its roster across its men’s and women’s sides. The national NBL1 competition comprises of North, South, East, West and Central. The North’s regular season tipped off last weekend and will continue until mid-July 2023. Here are the club teams with their First Nations players: Cairns Dolphins / Marlins – Teyahna
Bond, Shaneice Swain, Leichan Williams, Curt Ah Wang, Kerry Williams (Men’s Coach) Townsville Flames / Heat – Indiah Bowyer, Michael Cedar Mackay Meteorettes /Meteors – Denesha Bobongie Brisbane Capitals – Abby Cubillo, Tyla Cubillo Darwin Salties – Jamie-Lee Peris, Deba George, Nathan Jawai, Michael Maclean (Assistant Coach)
Walter John Sailor, Weilarni Darua (Most Valuable Players).
NBL1 Heat wins first game
Carly Mosby, Kailu George, Hassan Binawel (Coaches), Anthony Sagigi (Table official), Micaree Binawel, Kiwat Abednego, Thomas Loban, Kailu Luffman (Referees), Robert Nona (Referee / Shot clock), Cedella Gaidan (Referee / Table Official), Lucas Dewis (Shotclock / Coach), Rishad Sabatino (Shot clock), Ayesha Kepa (Table Official), Liberty Seekee (Photographer), Tom Dunsmore, Joseph Passi & Crew (Torres Shire Council), Fay Peters & Frank Morseu (Kaziw Meta) and Irene Laifoo & Crew (Boggo Pilot Hostel).
BY VELMA GARA
Player of the Grand Final • Girls – Nay Binawel • Boys – Kura Stephen
Most Valuable Player of the Torres Strait ICBL • Girls – Weilarni Darua • Boys – Walter John Sailor
Townsville Heat opened its NBL1 North season with a convincing win against the Cairns Marlins – 99 to 70 – last weekend. Experienced guard, Michael Cedar, said he couldn’t wait to play. “After being around the competition since 2002 where I suited up for my first game as a teenager, this could be the most excited I have been for a opening game to a season,” he said. “Townsville is home, and I love being back home.” Cedar said he was particularly excited about playing in front of his wife and two daughters at the stadium where he had spend a majority of his junior years learning how to play the game. Heat team was filled with young local products, a couple older veterans and an import who Cedar thought would be amazing to share the court with. Although he didn’t feature as a top scorer for the Heat, Cedar’s experience and presence on the floor was important. Guard, Curt Ah Wang, played hard and showed experience for the Marlins.
Michael Cedar. Pic supplied by Townsville Basketball. The Cairns team will travel to Darwin to play the Salties on Saturday 1 April. Townsville will be on a road trip to play against Mackay on Friday 31 March followed by Rockhampton on Saturday 1 April. Meantime, Salties guard, Deba George, had 14 points, 2 rebounds and 2 assists in 11.44 minutes of court time. He shot 4 from 6 three pointers but unfortunately got fouled out in the third quarter in the game against the Southern District Spartans. Salties got the win at home with a high score of 102 – 89. Dynamic centre and former NBA player, Nathan Jawai, didn’t suit up to play in this game.
Gold Coast Rollers – Tidjane Diop North Gold Coast Seahawks – Biwali Bayles Northside Wizards – Deshawn Ross-Paiwan USC Rip City – Verle Williams South West Pirates – Alana Fraser, Christopher Cedar Southern Districts Spartans – Hayley McDowell-White, Kobe McDowell-White
NBL news Superstar Australian point guard William McDowell-White, All-NBL Second Team Member and two-time Most Improved Player winner Keanu Pinder, are all out of contract and expected to be highly soughtafter in this year’s list of free agents. The star-studded list of free agents will be up for grabs from today when free agency opens in the Hungry Jack’s NBL. Teams will still have three imports next season, with 11 contracted players per roster. NBL Next Stars will not count towards the 11 contracted players.
Week 3 results for Kittyhawk basketball ABOVE: Naygay (Girls Champions). LEFT: Sager (Runners Up).
NPA BELOW LEFT: Naygay (Boys Champions). BELOW RIGHT: Zey (Runners Up).
KITTYHAWK BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION PICS BY STANLEY ELU
Preseason Week 3 game results Tuesday 21/03/23 Ladies- Kukuwams 30 def Undawu Mari 28. Men’s- Bucks 62 def Hawks 55. Thursday 23/30/23 Men’s- Auto Pilot 56 def Ebuaubau 39. Ladies- Kukuwams 36 def Invaders 32.
