The Cooktown Salties and coach Ashton Viranatuleo celebrate their victory at the Innisfail Diamonds in the Sky basketball carnival. Photo: Supplied.
They may have only played their first away game less than 18 months ago, but Cooktown basketballers are proving they are a force to be reckoned with on the court after an uncontested win in Innisfail.
The Cooktown Salties under-18s girls and coach Ashton Viranatuleo hit the road to battle teams across the region at the Diamonds in the Sky carnival on 12 September, where they defeated Yarrabah in the final showdown to return home victorious.
Viranatuleo said the Salties played three games, each ending in a win, to qualify for the grand final.
“The girls were super focused, and we just came out ready to play,” she said.
“From the beginning of the game, the girls were just locked in; we ended up going 13-0 to start the game, and we won by 20 at the end.”
The Cooktown team was made up of seven U14, U16 and U18 girls, as well as ex-NBL1 player Viranatuleo, who dusted off her shoes to participate in the combined U18 and adult ladies category.
“I made an NBL1 comeback for three games this year to help out the Cairns Dolphins, but before that, I haven’t played properly for nine years. I’m dying, I’m so sore,” she laughed.
“I think it also made it a bit of fun for them, and having that leadership from someone older on the court worked out well.”
She said the players’ passion and improvement on the court since the U14 girls team debuted outside Cooktown for the first time in May 2025 was a huge point of pride.
“Twelve months ago, they were still trying to build confidence and just feel out the game; it was all quite new,” Viranatuleo said.
“Now, some of the girls are taking their basketball a lot more seriously; they’re confident, their skills and everything are just improving so quickly, and they just love any chance to play.
“From a Salties perspective, we’re always trying to find as many games as we can for the kids up here, so to have four games in one day, they were just stoked.”
