History beckons for SA Championship team with difference

This team don't lack "ability" when it comes to their category of hoops and could end up being one of the most successful state teams in South Australian Basketball History. Photo by Basketball SA

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To put it into perspective on a national scale, in U20 Mens SA has won 6 titles total (twice back to back in 1975/1976 and 1992/1993) while the U20 Womens have won 7 total. Our SA U18 Women of 1967-1970 maybe the only team to have won four in a row (Source: History of Championships Basketball Australia) and there is a team with a difference that is on the brink of doing this once again for SA.

Consisting of a host of players that have played senior district basketball for SA Church Stars, Sturt Sabres and UNISA over the last half a decade, the Ivor Burge Mens side has been mostly together for each of its three championships. The third championship achievement has also been recognised at the highest level of sport in SA recognised as the IN-Daily Team of the Year at the Sport SA awards.

“The Ivor Burge Boys program has been around for many years and the last three years we’ve been lucky enough to win the championship; we are going for four in a row. They are a ripper group of young guys, the style of ball they play, the way they go about their business it’s just contagious and so much fun to see on the court,” Former Adelaide 36ers Assistant and Head Coach returning for another championship run Taylor Renshaw shared with the cross over dribble.

The fourth line-up in half a decade does look slightly different but Renshaw feels like they’ve covered the pieces needed to achieve a fourth title. “This year we have a slightly different line-up, we’ve had a couple of guys out for a few different reasons so there are a few different faces in the group, we have taken the same group mostly over the last three years so its definitely made our preparation a little more interesting with lots of teaching and learning but our last month or so we have really started to gel and play some really nice basketball.”

The state rival Victoria will always be a contender but Renshaw explained that there is one to keep an eye on that could be on the rise. “We’ll of course be watching for Victoria they’ve been rock solid and won the past 14 titles before us, Its Tasmania we’ve noticed coming along with quite a few nice players but Victoria then Tasmania are the ones to beat.”

Returning this year are the Women after unable to enter a side in 2021, the side is made up of women from district clubs and local domestic competitions like MSBL and SACBA. “The women have had a good preparation this year, Eliza (Wooden) my assistant coach from last year has taken over the program, they’ve got some new athletes so they’ll have some new faces and new energy in the group, I’m really hoping given they didn’t travel over with us last year they’ll be able to come home with a couple of wins this year.” Renshaw spoke about his observations of the Womens group.

Renshaw will be instilling a one step at a time mentality and not to think too far ahead to the goal of that fourth championship and leaves this with the Mens group he has the responsibility to guide forward. “Play hard, enjoy the style of play, we talk about at the moment the whole process is a learning opportunity so don’t take a rep off, every rep, every possession there’s something to gain and the whole week’s got to be a building process to set us up to our goal of the gold medal game.”

If both teams take it as it comes, then it could be a very successful championships for the Ivor Burge for SA and show that any ability has what it takes to make history in this sport…

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