Young basketballers receive Sports Star support

A PAIR of junior Braves, Dash Daniels and Mia Harvey, have had their talent recognised with Bendigo Sports Star scholarships.

Both basketballers represented Country Victoria last month at the under-16 National Junior Championships in Perth.

For Daniels, 14, it was his first chance to benchmark himself against the best in the country.

“It was very competitive, big players, big bodies,” he said. “It was fun to show my skills and know where I’m at in the Australian leader board.”

Daniels finished the tournament with box scores of 26 points, six rebounds and 29 points and six rebounds from two games against Tasmania, as the Vic Country boys finished sixth.

Before the tournament, Daniels joined his older brother Dyson in New York, and saw him get drafted.

“It’s crazy, his dream came true and that’s somewhere I want to be in a couple of years,” he said.

“In four years’ time I want to be in the same position, but hopefully go number one. I’m looking forward to the future.”

For Mia Harvey, 13, the tournament was also a positive experience.

“It was a great opportunity,” she said. “Going over there meeting new people and playing basketball, the sport I love, it was really great and really fun.

“That was my first big opportunity representing the state.

“Playing against the top people in each state is a big thing, just to keep grinding through it all, everyone has their own skills and putting them against other people with the same high level of basketball is really great.”

Harvey scored 10 points as the under-16 girls lost by two points in their bronze medal match.

Also coming from a Bendigo Braves-strong family, Harvey said her dad, former player and coach Ben Harvey, has played a big role in her love of basketball.

“It’s really overwhelming coming from a little kid who used to play basketball and practice with dad, and just growing up and playing basketball has been great,” she said.

“I’m out there every day, I love this sport, and I definitely think this will be something for my future.”