A basketball clinic recently attracted 26 potential junior basketballers to the Merredin Regional Community and Leisure Centre.
The Go for Two and Five Merredin Basketball Clinic was presented by the Southside Mitsubishi Redbacks, one of the 14 metropolitan and country teams involved in the State Basketball League competition.

Redbacks president Gary Prior said the club tried to put something back into the basketball community by holding clinics in the metropolitan and country areas.

"We have conducted clinics in Albany, Narrogin, Kulin, Lake Grace and Corrigin during the past 12 months," he said.

"We did the Merredin clinic for a couple of reasons: firstly, there are people in the Merredin community who are involved in our club.

"Kelsey Crook presently plays for the Redbacks in the State Basketball League and Division One competitions and Gary Anderson has played in our Western Australian Basketball League junior competitions including under 18s.

"Secondly, it really forms part of our overall country clinic program and we actually had a bit of a gap in the first school holidays."

Mr Prior said the club was pleased with the turnout given it was the first one of the clinics they had conducted in Merredin.

Four coaches attend the two days, including two Americans who play for the Redbacks.

Earl Nurse played for the Lehigh University in US College Basketball and Chris Lynch formerly played for the Northwestern State University in College Basketball.

Redbacks' shooting guard Jarrad Prior and Men's State Basketball League coach David Harris also attended.

The various coaches provided the participants with basketball skills practice aimed to be done in a fun environment.

"We feel the participants get a lot out of it," Mr Prior said.

"We are looking forward to coming again in 2010 during the first term school holidays."

Article Courtesy of Merredin-Wheatbelt Weekly