Preseason Champions!
History was made on 15th and 16th February 2025 as the Kempsey Kookaburras Under-16s Division 1 squad claimed their first-ever representative-level title at the Coffs Coast Classic basketball tournament. Facing a daunting challenge after suffering a heavy defeat just a day earlier, the Kookaburras showcased resilience and determination to take home the championship.
After falling 52-22 to the Valley Braves Black in the group stage, the Kookaburras looked down but not out. Rallying together, they clawed their way back into contention with two remarkable come-from-behind victories against the Byron Beez and Lismore Storm, setting up an unexpected rematch against the Braves in the grand final.
What unfolded in the championship match was nothing short of extraordinary. With unwavering grit and a newfound belief in themselves, the Kookaburras flipped the script on their previous defeat, executing a well-rounded performance to claim the title in a thrilling contest. The Kempsey Kookaburras took out the contest in a nailbiter - winning the game by 3 points, final score being 41-39.
“I couldn’t be prouder of the boys and their efforts all weekend,” said Kempsey Basketball Association President and team coach Meghan Kemp. “They have been building for this for a while now and have been close to all the teams with good wins at times. But their effort to pick themselves up after getting well beaten less than 24 hours earlier was remarkable.”
Co-Captain Oliver Gill reflected on the team's resilience, saying, “We never gave up, we were disappointed in ourselves in our first game against them, but it was so enjoyable to find that grit to come back and win.”
Fellow Co-Captain Harry Shore added, “We have all played together for a long time now, so it was so good to finally win a tournament.”
The win not only secured the Kookaburras their first representative grand final victory but also cemented their place as a rising force in junior basketball. The resilience shown by the team throughout the weekend serves as a testament to their hard work and growing potential.
With their championship win now in the books, the Kempsey Kookaburras have set a new benchmark for success. As they continue their development, this moment will undoubtedly be remembered as the first of many triumphs to come.
Meghan Kemp further emphasised the significance of the victory, saying, “This is really big for Kempsey Basketball. We currently have a record number of players playing and training. They train in Kempsey and play mostly in the Port Macquarie domestic competition. Our hope is to be able to have our own competition locally in Kempsey with our own facilities.”
She added, “We will be building on this success with more around the corner, I'm sure! We couldn’t have done this without the support from our sponsors—Coastline Bank, Keystone Health, and Leanne Webbers - Coastal Interiors.”
Kempsey Basketball is looking forward to attempting to back up with more teams and some more championships next year on 13-15 February 2026. More information about next year’s tournament can be found at https://coffsclassic.com/.
Check out the photos and videos from the weekend and follow the page for next year’s tournament here.