THERE’S representation in both the boys and girls NSW Country under 18s teams this year for Bathurst thanks to Will Cranston-Lown and Matilda Flood.
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Cranston-Lown and Flood both impressed for their NSW Kookaburras and Waratahs teams respectively at the recent Australian Country Junior Basketball Cup in Albury.
The pair have gone the next step to be named among the 10 best non-metropolitan players in the state.
They will now prepare to take on the Australian Under-18 Junior Championships in Townsville from April 8 to 15.
It was almost a trio of Bathurst selections as Olivia Doble was named in the reserves for the girls 18s side.
Bathurst junior basketball co-ordinator Paul Masters said the selection for both Cranston-Lown and Flood comes to their their commitment to the game.
"They've both worked very hard and they're always getting better," he said.
"Will, as a top age player, played very well at Albury. Matilda has made the NSW Country team at bottom age, which is surprising, but she's got the size and the talent.”
"It was about two years ago when Will really broke through in 16s. He would have only just scraped into the team back then but now he's developed into one of the premier guards in country NSW. He’s able to turn a game, and his shooting has improved a lot," he said.
"Matilda's a netballer who has come across to basketball. For her to now make the 18s country state team, at bottom age, is amazing.
Masters said Doble was deserving of a spot in the 18s side along with Flood.
"Olivia was very unlucky to miss out. She was in the team two years ago but this time they decided to go in a different direction," he said.
"She's playing as good as she ever has been and she can still go on to bigger and better things."
Doble’s NSW Kookaburras side finished fifth at Albury tournament, thanks to a 53-51 win in the fifth place playoff over South Australia.
Cranston-Lown’s 18s squad were gold medallists in a dominant performance all tournament while Flood’s Waratahs were fourth.