The men's and women's Launceston Lightning teams are ready to rumble as they head south to Kingborough this weekend for the start of the 2020 State Basketball League season.
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While this year's men's team will have a number of lineup changes, Launceston Basketball Association head coach Sarah Veale said the team would be protecting the championship they claimed in 2019.
"The guys are pumped, they love playing together and they don't usually do it very often," she said.
"We're a much younger side this year and even though we lack game experience we've got some incredibly talented juniors led by Sejr Deans so it'll be really interesting to see how they go.
"They certainly play well together because there's a lot of young athletes in that group that have come through representing state teams together ... it'll be good."
In other news:
The women's side will feature a number of key players from the Tornadoes, including Aishah Anis, Micah Simpson and Makala Bingley.
"I expect big things out of all those girls so it will be interesting to see how we play together," Veale said.
MEN'S SQUAD:
Ray Young (coach), Hugh King (assistant coach) Sejr Deans, Harry Flint, Hayden Zasadny, Jackson Lowe, Ben Rigby, Moses Van Den Berg, Ty Stewart, Tristan Bailey, Jai Lette, Henry Cox, Lachlan Brewer, Tom Foster.
WOMEN'S SQUAD:
Sarah Veale (coach), Belinda Simpson (assistant coach), Lanai Morrison (manager), Ella Fox, Aishah Anis, Micah Simpson, Makala Bingley, Olivia Chugg, Claudia Howard, Bronte Smith, Milly Whitehead, Keely Morrison, Amber Brazendale, Annalice Leeflang, Gemma Korpershoek.
Harry Murtough
Born and raised in Launceston. BA of journalism from Monash University. Sports reporter covering basketball, netball and cricket.
Born and raised in Launceston. BA of journalism from Monash University. Sports reporter covering basketball, netball and cricket.
