THREE Shoalhaven Tigers have been recognised for their outstanding seasons on the hardwood, by being announced as 2018 Waratah League award winners.
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The standout was Riley O’Shannessy, who took out three awards on offer in the youth league men’s division two men’s competition.
The Tigers skipper, who helped Scott Balsar’s team take out the minor premiership with a 20-2 record, claimed the competition’s most valuable player, as well as being named rookie of the year.
During the 2018 season, O’Shannessy has averaged 18.86 points through his 22 matches played – with his top score coming against Bathurst on July 28, where he exploded for 33 points.
“I feel honoured and humbled to be nominated for MVP in my first year of youth league,” O’Shannessy said.
“It‘s been a great season for the Shoalhaven Tigers and I wouldn’t have had this opportunity without my team mates around me.
“I’m really looking forward to finals this weekend and would like to thank my team, Basketball NSW and Spalding for the nomination.”
On top of that, O’Shannessy was named as the all-star five centre – being joined in the prestigious five by fellow Tiger Brayden Morris, who was named as one of two guards.
O’Shannessy and Morris are joined by Bathurst Goldminers pair Will Cranston-Lown (guard) and Matthew Gray (forward), as well as Sydney Comets’ Jarryd Fernandes (forward).
Starting guard Morris, a current Nowra High School student, averaged 11.23 points per contest this season but his real impact had been on the defensive end, with coach Balsar labelling him as the ‘catalyst for everything they do on defence’.
The third Tiger acknowledged was division one women’s star Kate Denyer, who was named in the all-star five, at the guard position.
She is joined by Maitland Mustangs’ Shakera Reilly (guard) and Amnda Beindiech (centre), Coffs Harbour Suns’ Laura Bamford-Cleland (forward) and Wagga Wagga Heat’s Stephanie Male (forward).
Throughout the season, Denyer, a former league MVP, led the whole competition is scoring, with 19.67 per game – with her top score of 37 coming against Newcastle on June 30.
Denyer also led the league in free throws made this season, with 70, with Tigers team mate Chelsea Hogg finishing in second with 42.
She also finished third, in three-pointers made with 26, 12 behind leader Bamford-Cleland – who took out the league MVP award.
Both the Tigers youth league men and division one women’s sides will compete at the Waratah League finals series at the Hills Basketball Stadium this weekend.
The youth league men will play Hornsby Spiders Green in their semi-final at 9.30am Saturday, while the women take on Coffs Harbour from 1.30pm Saturday, for a spot in the final.