Whichever team wins the inaugural under 18s Seahawks Championship League (SCL) is in for an absolute treat.
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The NBA-style championship rings have come in from America as the league's finals series approaches.
Warrnambool Basketball junior coordinator Mike McGorm is over the moon about the "pretty impressive-looking rings".
"They've been made specifically for this competition," he said.
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They've been made specifically for this competition.
- Mike McGorm
McGorm had previously been involved with a AAU (Amateur Athletic Union) league in Melbourne for high-talented basketballers, most of them state players.
He said they used the same American company to get their championship rings.
McGorm said those players loved to wear their rings everywhere in Melbourne and it was like a "badge of honour".
"The kids seem to just love it," he said.
The SCL is a five-round boys competition held Friday nights at The Arc.
Round-five games were postponed due to the state government's coronavirus pandemic seven-day snap lockdown.
McGorm is hopeful the competition will be back on Friday as the snap lockdown is due to end at 11.59pm on Thursday, June 3.
He explained the league had been an exciting initiative.
It features the same timing (quarters) the club's representative sides play when they go to country championships.
It also features Warrnambool's best under 18 male players, top referees and an impressive coaching line-up.
McGorm (Comets), Alex Gynes (Warriors), Louise Brown (Bombers), Shane Smith (Status), Jono Carroll (Blues) and Ollie Bidmade (Tikis) are the mentors.
McGorm explained the vision for the new league was to have a high standard of under 18 basketball to help youngsters prepare for playing with the Warrnambool Seahawks in competitions like the Country Basketball League.
The junior development coordinator said there was effort being made to make it like a Seahawks' game.
He said there was a court announcer, music and games were starting to attract bigger crowds.
There was even great buzz about how teams were formed.
Players were sent expression of interest emails.
He said from there it was just like AFL fantasy game SuperCoach with the coaches having 'money' to spend on players and a salary cap - in an effort to make the teams even.
The coaches and oganisers sat around a table and drafted players.
Players' value depended on their ability and experience such as if they had played state basketball or played with a championship team.
"It's been a really big success," McGorm said.
Warriors and Bombers had three wins and one loss after four rounds.
Tikis and Status have two wins each while Comets and Blues have one victory a piece.
The top-of-the-ladder Warriors only beat the Blues 62-57 in round four which shows how close the competition is.
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