Newcastle basketballers Michael Walker and Chyra Evans have been selected in the under-16 Australian teams for the upcoming FIBA Asia Championships.
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The teams were selected after a recent three-day selection camp at the Basketball Australia Centre of Excellence in Canberra.
Evans will be coached by newly appointed Bendigo Spirit WNBL mentor Tracy York and rejoins most of her teammates from the gold-medal winning side that claimed from the FIBA Oceania Championships late last year.
The girls team need a top-four finish in the Asia Cup to qualify for the 2020 FIBA Under-17 World Championships in Romania.
Walker will be part of the Justin Schueller-coached side for the Asia Championships. The Melbourne Untied assistant coach will guide the boys team, which progressed through to the Asia Cup with a thrilling win in the gold-medal match against New Zealand at the FIBA Oceania Championships in Port Moresby last year.
The team will be vying for a top-four finish at the Asia Championships to qualify for the 2020 World Championships in Bulgaria.
The dates and venue for the Asia Championships are yet to be announced.
Hunter surfers hit Bells Beach
A contingent of Hunter surfers will contest the Hydralyte Sports Pro Junior at Bells Beach this week.
Both men's and women's events are scheduled to be held at the famous beach on Wednesday and Thursday.
The two 18 years and under tournaments complete the World Surf League Australasian Junior Qualifying Series (JQS) for 2019 and will be the last chance for competitors to move up the rankings and grab a spot for the WSL Junior World Championships to be held in Taiwan in November.
Hunter Surfers contesting the events include Mike Clayton-Brown, Jordy Liackman and Connor Lee, who will take part in the men's tournament, and Amelie Bourke and Ellie Lambkin who are in the women's.
League country championships
Hunter sides filled three of the four finals places in Country Rugby League's Northern Zone Under-14's and 15's Championships at Port Macquarie on Sunday.
Newcastle proved too good for Hunter Valley (Group 21) in the under 14's final, finishing 40-4 winners.
Hunter Valley (Group 21) lost the under-15's final to Group 2 by only two points. The Group 2 side held on to claim the match 18-16.
The Country Championship finals will be held at Morry Breen Oval in Wyong this Saturday,
The under-14 Newcastle side will take on NRL Victoria in the trophy final, while in the under-15's plate final Newcastle play Illawarra.
