Silver for up-and-coming basketballer

A YOUNG Ballarat Miner has had some silver-medal success at the Australian Junior Basketball Championships.

As part of the Victorian Country Under-18 Boys’ squad, Ned Renfree and his teammates were runners up to the Victorian Metro group in the final.

Although they placed in the top two, a statement from Ballarat Basketball said the 185-centimetre-guard’s team performed strongly in the semi-final which was a tournament highlight.

“Country Victoria’s win over the reigning premiers Queensland South, who were tipped to win the Championships… was game of the tournament,” the statement said.

“Renfree starred in the semi-final with an outstanding game-high 35 points, nine rebounds and four assists to lead his team to victory in overtime.

“Victoria Country came back from a 13-point deficit in the third quarter when Renfree was taken out with a heavy hit and his team rallied. He returned in the fourth quarter and continued where he left off.

“With only seconds left on the clock, Renfree sent the game into overtime hitting three free-throws in a row to silence the local Queensland supporters. The Victoria Country boys lead throughout the extra time to come home with a three-point win.”

Renfree is now expected to focus on training with the Miners, and is set to join the NBL1 South team, while still committed to the youth league.

A Country Victoria pathway player since under-12s, he has developed through academies, and state and national pathways programs.

Due to the pandemic lockdowns in 2020 and 2021, Renfree was not able to play on the Under-16 Victorian Country team at the Australian Junior Basketball Championships in Perth.