Horsham's Austin McKenzie performed tremendously at the Australian Junior Basketball Championships in Townsville last week.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
A bottom age player with Victoria Country's under-18 team, McKenzie flourished across the tournament as he adapted to an ever-changing role on the team.
He averaged 10.3 points, 3.8 rebounds and almost one assist across the tournament.
"I started on the bench for most of the games. I was like the sixth man, so the first player coming on off the bench," McKenzie said.
"But at the end of the week, we had three big men all get injured or went home. I was the only big man left on the team, so I started the last two games.
"There were some big guys. I had to play on a few seven-foot people - it was tiring, but good. I got more opportunity to be out there and playing."
Playing out of his natural position against taller players, McKenzie was able to use his athleticism and outside shooting to score points and help his team.
His best individual performance came when he started in the second last contest against Queensland North. McKenzie scored 21 points and added four rebounds as Victoria Country secured a 99-90 win.
"Winning the close game against Queensland North was probably the best moment," McKenzie said.
"We came back from 20 points down in the third quarter and ended up winning."
After winning five of their six pool matches in the group stage, Victoria Country were unlucky to finish third in Pool B on percentage.
This meant they came up against a rampaging Tasmania in the quarter finals where they lost by 10 points.
Victoria Country then defeated Queensland North, before losing to Queensland South for a sixth place finish at the tournament.
McKenzie said he was pleased to play some valuable minutes across the tournament after missing out with the under-16s due to injury last year.
"I went up last year and was meant to be playing but got injured - so it was just good to play," McKenzie said.
"I probably wasn't expecting to play as much, being a bottom age player. I didn't really expect it, but it happened. It was good."