WILL Cranston-Lown has won his second successive Western Advocate Sportsperson of the Year award, and it’s a well deserved honour for the rising Bathurst basketball star.
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In 2016 Cranston-Lown, now 16, solidified his position as one of Country NSW’s leading guards thanks to his fantastic performances across a range of tournaments.
It’s difficult to find an end to Cranston-Lown’s long list of achievements from throughout last year.
Towards the top of the list is his selection in the NSW Basketball State Performance Program, reserved for just the top 10 country and top 10 metropolitan players in the state for each age group.
As part of the program Cranston-Lown got to test himself against his NSW Country and Metro counterparts by taking part in the D League.
I’d like to thank all my coaches, my family for helping me out with everything and my friends for their support.”
- Will Cranston-Lown
There the Bathurst player and his Lakers outfit managed to make their way through to the grand finals.
Closer to home he played Country Premier League basketball with the Western Reds.
He also was named as a reserve in the NSW Country under 18s squad for their nationals campaign.
Cranston-Lown also had time to help out his local Bathurst Goldminers outfit – in both State League and Western Junior League – in between of all his representative duties.
He played a big part in getting the Goldminers to the under 18s WJL title, and finished off the competition in style.
In the final as he sunk a mammoth 55 points against the Griffith Demons. He shot 11 from 14 three pointers in the scoring blitz.
“Last year was definitely a great one for me. While I didn’t make the state team – playing at bottom age – I was able to go to events like the South Sudanese [Summer Slam] Tournament – and the atmosphere there was amazing,” Cranston-Lown said.
“I had some great games for the Goldminers, and in the Western Junior League final we won easily.”
It looks like 2017 is already shaping up to be a special one for the Bathurst player.
“I just made the 18s state team this year to go away and play at nationals in April,” Cranston-Lown said.
“I wasn’t as strong as the other guys last year … but I always tried to go up against the strongest player at training, and that’s helped me a lot.
“I’d like to thank all my coaches, my family for helping me out with everything and my friends for their support.”