PORTLAND basketballer Summer Millard has returned from the Kumon Country-Metro Challenge, held over four days in Melbourne, with a taste of competition at the higher level.

With COVID hurdles – most notable the changing border rules – making it impossible for organisers to lock in the annual Southern Cross Challenge, Basketball Victoria instead opted to give their best pathways players an all-Victorian tournament with under-14, under-15, under-16 and under-18 divisions being held.

The Southern Cross tournament would normally attract metro and country representative teams from Victoria, New South Wales, South Australia and Western Australia.

Instead, two teams from Victoria Country and two teams from Victoria Metropolitan were fielded in each of the divisions at the Country-Metro Challenge, with Millard part of one of the Vic Country under-16 teams.

“I learnt so much on the weekend,” Millard said.

“It was the next level of competition, very fast, very intense, and the ball movement was a lot quicker.

“It was a great weekend, I had a blast.”

The tournament started on Friday and ended Monday with Millard’s team able to beat the other Vic Country side and one of the Vic Metro sides.

Apart from matches there was also daily training sessions.

“We’d be up at 7.30, have breakfast and then head to the stadium for training for an hour or so.

“The games would be late in the afternoon, so it was a matter of filling in time during the afternoon waiting for the games.

“At the training, we’d go through the set plays, work on our defence – Vic Country is known for their good defence – then we’d do drills even just to get each other’s names right.

“We’d also train against the other Country team.”

Millard, who is part of Basketball Victoria’s State Development Program, received positive feedback for her performance, where she played a wing position, and has her fingers crossed that she might get the call-up for the Victorian Country side that will take part in the Australian Junior Championships later in the year.

“We had our team coaches, but the state coaches were there watching.

“The two Vic Country teams from the weekend will be cut down to one Vic Country side of 10 or 12 players.

“I hope I can get there. They are all good players, but I would love to be picked in that.”

For now though, her focus turns to this weekend’s junior tournament in Bendigo, where she will be representing Warrnambool’s under-16s, and the remainder of the Country Basketball League women’s season with Portland Coasters.

The 14-year-old said she was grateful for the support of her parents, and her coaches, including Portland’s Trenton Johnston.

“Trenton takes me for one-on-one sessions, working on my skills and fitness.” The Portland Basketball Association will also be sending a number of junior sides to Bendigo this weekend, with Portland’s own junior tournament to be held the following weekend