Penrith Panthers U14 Boys 2024.

THE Penrith Basketball Association’s U14 Boys and Girls teams have both qualified for the 2024 Australian U14 National Club Championships, which will be held in Melbourne from 21-27 September.

Both teams have been confirmed as qualifying for the prestigious event, following last weekend’s final round of the BNSW JPL.

“The Penrith Girls have been at the top of the competition ladder for most of the year, so no surprises here, but our boys’ fate was only sealed last weekend, when a rival club (Newcastle) lost a game, then in the final game of the regular season, Penrith defeated Newcastle to claim the final qualification spot for NSW,” said Penrith Director of Coaching, Bernie Slattery.

48 teams (24 Boys & 24 Girls teams) from across the nation will compete at the National Championships and it will be the third consecutive year Penrith has qualified a Girls team.

The Penrith boys will be attending for the second time in the past three years.

“We firstly congratulate the staff of both teams on their volunteering success, their passion, their commitment, their intelligence, and their community spirit, and then the staff of both teams have a large group of talented, dedicated, skilled young Panthers to thank for all the efforts, the listening, the toughness that is required for teams to qualify for the Australian Championships,” said Mr Slattery.” The players of these families have their parents to thank for the dedication to their children, the endless driving to training and games, the support at games, the score-bench duty, the extra expenses involved, the consoling after a loss or an injury, the encouragement that all children need in order to succeed in life.

“So, the real heroes here are the families of these 20+ children who will represent their community and the Penrith Basketball Association in a show of community strength in Melbourne in September. Very well done everyone involved.”