Basketball
20 February, 2026
Hornets impress at country champs
The Horsham Hornets under-16 girls side matched up against some of the best teams in the state at the Division 1 and 2 Junior Country Championships in Bendigo over the weekend.
Coach Jordyn Burke was proud of how the young side played, with the team winning two games over the weekend.
“It was a fantastic weekend; the girls acquitted themselves very well,” Burke said.
“We only had eight players for the weekend, and with three top-age girls and five bottom-age girls, it was a big challenge physically.
“So most games we were outdone in terms of height or age, but with the competitive nature of the girls, they never backed down.”
After a challenging first two games, the side won their third group game against eventual Division Two champions Geelong, before defeating Traralgon 35-26 in the quarter finals.
The Hornets eventually bowed out in the Division Two semifinals, losing 42-22 to Korumburra.
Burke was pleased with how the team played themselves into the weekend.
“Saturday was tough, with pool games against Warragul, Ballarat and Geelong,” Burke said.
“The first two games, we had some trouble scoring with a lot of defensive pressure from very good sides, but the game never really got away from us until the last quarter in both of those.
“But the girls were working very hard, and in the third game against Geelong, they played really well, got a nice win and backed it up with a good win over Traralgon in the quarter final.
“The semifinal, we probably ran out of a bit of steam, which is understandable considering most other teams have 10 or 11 players and we had eight.”
Over the five games, Luella Burke led the side with 37 points, including 15 in the quarterfinal win, Ivy Hofmaier had 28 points, and Ruby Bethune finished with 26.
Asked about how the team has progressed throughout the representative season, Burke was pleased not only with their improvement in results but also with their overall development.
“To watch the improvement from our first tournament in Hamilton, where we didn’t win a game, to finishing in the semifinals on Sunday was super impressive, and they thoroughly deserved it,” Burke said.
“We won the Horsham tournament and the Bendigo tournament, but taking away the wins and the losses from it, the key is how they develop over the season.
“It was good to have the wins as it gets them some reward for their hard work, but from a coaching point of view, whether it’s coming back next season or progressing to under-18s, it’s about making them better basketballers.”
The Hornets under-12 girls B squad and under-16 boys B squad also competed at the Maryborough & St Arnuad Tournament on the weekend, with each side claiming one win.
Over the next two weekends, most junior Hornets teams in the under-12s, under-14s and under-18s age groups will compete in the Bulla Colac Classic Tournament.