Perth Lynx players visit Narrogin as basketball fever heats up the Wheatbelt

Star Perth Lynx players Anneli Maley and Chloe Forster visited the region last week to inspire the next generation of budding young basketballers. The players were brought to town by Basketball WA who have partnered with CSBP to strengthen the sport in the Wheatbelt region and draw young female players to the game through training and skill development. Maley said that her two-day Wheatbelt stint had been a lot of fun. “Narrogin’s a really cool community and there seems be such a demand for basketball here, all the kids absolutely loved it,” she said. “The schools that came down to the leisure centre, the junior and senior programs, everyone was really engaged.” Basketball WA regional development officer Wheatbelt Georgi Eddy said that it was exciting to see the growth and development of the sport. “Basketball is extremely popular in the Wheatbelt,” she said. “Having Forster and Maley come down to Narrogin is one of the many opportunities Basketball WA hopes to provide in the Wheatbelt region. “From BWA’s perspective they’re not only great fun but part of a broader vision to improve the lives of Western Australians through basketball, which includes strategies to support the growth of country basketball and to promote the game to more women and girls.” The sport has had a big impact on the lives of both Forster and Maley . “Basketball’s played a huge role in the person I am today,” Forster said. “It’s made me grow so much as a person and learn so many valuable skills. “Also I’ve met so many amazing friends through the sport. It’s impacted my life in so many ways.” Before heading back to Perth on February 8 Maley passed on a special message of encouragement to the Wheatbelt’s stars of tomorrow. “You guys are super talented and there’s no limit on what you can achieve,” she said. “It doesn’t matter if you’re from a small country town you can go out there and compete with the best of them.”