Hoops 4 Health Challenge Alice Springs 2011

Hoops 4 Health (H4H) had their third annual challenge in Alice Springs this year on Friday 4^th of March. The night started with an under 12 girls match with A/S Black beating A/S Red 25-14. That game was then followed by a H4H Womens game (Black and White) showcasing the female talent of A/S. This match was a close one with the scores locked 14 all at half time. H4H Black prevailed winners with Petra Bonning scoring to give her team a lead 13 seconds to go. And then on the buzzer Lara Harding laid it up for the Black team to make the final score 27-23. It was a great close game with a lot of excitement. The best players for H4H Black were Haley Newman and Katrina Bloomfield. Jaiden Preece and Jessie White stood out for H4H White.

The H4H Mens Challenge was abuzz after last years tight game. A/S wanting revenge after losing in overtime. H4H also creating some excitement having locals Willy Foster and young gun Sam Crowe representing them. The crowd was most eager to get a look at local hero AFL Champion Darryl White lining up for H4H showcasing his basketball talents. The thought on everyone’s minds was if he can leap on a footy field surely he can leap on a court.

H4H won the jump ball, however was unsuccessful at hitting the first shot. Tui Ford for A/S hirt the first basket, jumping the gun on H4H. H4H didn’t wait around too long with Powerhouse ex Brisbane Bullets star Andre Moore hitting the first 2 baskets for H4H. Scores were tight for the first quarter until high flyer White came on to help H4H take a lead 21-12. Aaron Crowe and Darian Preece for A/S determined not to let H4H get too ahead of themselves hit a few three pointers to bring the scores closer together by end of quarter time 27-23, H4H still leading. The first quarter showed a lot of hustle by both teams. A/S was the more structured team of the two with a lot of good team work and unstoppable 3 point shots. H4H only coming together the day of the challenge showed plenty of individual play with rebounds winning them the match at the moment.

The second quarter was an exciting one. Not one team letting up. It was tit for tat throughout the whole quarter. Shaylen Parai of A/S hitting a 2 right before the buzzer for half time making the game 1 point difference 40-39 still in H4H favour.

By the third quarter H4H were done playing around. Cairns Taipans Deba George was instrumental in getting the lead for H4H with some amazing slam dunks and great team work with Michael MacLean with some breath taking alley-oops. A/S kept trying hard to close the gap with Tui Ford and Tim Easthope working hard for their team. End of the third quarter H4H had gotten away leading the score 72-50.

The big lead by H4H didn’t scare the local team away. They came out fighting trying their hardest with Aaron Crowe and Shaylen Parai standing out. But H4H’s talents and experience were just too good for A/S. Deba George and Cairns Marlins Curtis Ahwang giving the crowd a show with a few more alley-oops. The score remained 20 points difference throughout most of the last quarter with the final score being 91-70 to H4H Allstars. A/S putting up a good fight, but H4H just too good on the night.

In the lead up to the Challenge H4H Allstar players Andre Moore, Deba George and Curtis Ahwang did some youth community work with Youth of Tangentyere, Yeperenye Centre and Yirara College receiving a lot of positive feedback and getting a large amount of support from these youths on the night of the Challenge.

H4H main aim is to educate Indigenous youth on health and well being and directing them towards positive pathways and goals for their future and using basketball as a medium to get these messages across. The H4H Challenge has been a very positive initiative for the youth of A/S for the past 3 years attracting more and more children and families to the game.

 

H4H Mens Team:

Michael MacLean – Local Darwin Sporting Identity

Verle Williams – Former ABA player

Deba George – Cairns Marlins and Taipans

Curt Ahwang – Cairns Marlins

Darryl White – ex AFL Brisbane Lions Champion

Willy Foster – Local A/S basketball champion and ex ABA player

Andre Moore – ex NBL Brisbane Bullets

Sam Crowe – Local A/S up and coming player

 

Alice Springs Mens Team:

Aaron Crowe

Caleb Pannell

Isaac Bergen Smith

Ben Streeter

Tim Easthope

Tui Ford

Shaylen Parai

Darian Preece

Ashley McDonnel

Chris Atkins