The under-12 Cooktown Salties are celebrating as their reputation as a basketball force to be reckoned with grows after they notched up two big wins in Port Douglas on 23 March. Photo: Supplied.
Their uniforms may still be en route, but that hasn’t diminished the growing reputation of the Cooktown Salties on the basketball court.
It has only been 18 months since the sport experienced a resurgence on south-eastern Cape York but players are going from strength to strength as they begin to notch up some impressive victories.
The Salties travelled to Port Douglas on 23 March to tackle the local Heat A and B teams and put on a basketball clinic with 80-6 and 65-15 wins in their two games.
Coach Junior Viranatuleo credited a strong training ethic, respect and dedication as the drivers behind the club’s success in Port Douglas, and praised players for demonstrating sportsmanship as they ran away with the games.
“It was good to get a win, but if the kids took anything out of it, it was great sportsmanship – they knew when to back off and let the other team enjoy the game as well,” he said.
“They played in borrowed uniforms – ours are still coming.
“They were just next level; it was a good day trip down, and it’s a good thing when the kids want it as well; they want to have a great time and be successful, but at the same time, respect other teams around them.”
Viranatuleo said interest in basketball in Cooktown has exploded “from five to 82 kids” in the year-and-a-half he has been leading the sport’s local rebound, and said there was a genuine respect between players and coaches during intense training sessions each week.
“That’s only been from being consistent,” he reflected.
“We’ve got great coaches … and we’ve just had good helpers come on; it hasn’t just been about basketball – it’s been about life skills.”
Viranatuleo thanked Cook Shire Council, Endeavour Lions Club and Gungarde Community Aboriginal Corporation for supporting the Salties on their sporting journey.
