Mum coaches kids to three state championships

For the Gibsons, team and family are one and the same with everyone involved in City of Launceston basketball in one capacity or another.

City of Launceston coach Mandy Gibson certainly has her hands full in coaching all three of her kids: 15-year-old Aiden, 13-year-old Logan and nine-year-old Cassidy.

Father Craig Gibson is also the president of the Launceston Basketball Association.

"I've always had an affinity for basketball, it's a game that goes across both genders ... I think as a parent it's terrific to have all of your kids involved in the same sport," Mandy said.

Mandy herself has coached basketball for more than 20 years, and played in the Launceston Tornadoes' first and only national championship win in 1995.

"I was about 13 when I started playing, which marks 35 years I've been involved in the game ... it's a pretty long time when you think about it," she said.

"Some of the friendships I've had with the Tornadoes are ones I still have today ... that's just the camaraderie you get with from a team sport."

Mandy ended up coaching Aiden in 2013 when he decided to pick up the sport.

"It's actually wonderful - I knew as soon as Aiden wanted to start playing ... I don't think there's any greater feeling than watching your kids get better, have some great friendships, learn what they do from winning and losing and for us it's become a massive part of our lives," she said.

"Now with Cassidy getting involved and loving basketball; it's pretty special to have a sport that transcends across the family like that."

Then last week lightning struck thrice, with all three kids winning their state junior championship basketball games.

Logan said in the state championships, his under-14 team "had some close games but towards then end we extended it out again and got some good wins."

Mandy admitted the rarity of the accomplishment.

"I don't think it's happened much before where you have three state champions in one family with the same coach and same club," Mandy said.

"We won one, then another and then the pressure was on ... we did have a laugh about that."

All three kids have been involved in future development programs with Basketball Tasmania - Mandy said she hoped the kids would continue their pursuits in the sport long term.

She added that she'd like to see more competitions between North and North-Western clubs.

"Playing that really tough competition week in and week out only makes you better," Mandy said.

"I know that just over a couple of days in the state champs how much better teams get because they're playing really tough competition."