Tara Murray
One of the state’s best under-20 players will be part of the Keilor Thunder’s inaugural women’s National Basketball League 1 South team.
Amy O’Hara is one of the team’s youngest players, but she brings plenty of experience to the Thunder.
O’Hara, who just turned 18, said she was looking for an opportunity to play NBL1 and Keilor seemed like the right fit.
“It’s really exciting,” she said. “They reached out to me and I was looking for an NBL1 club to go to so I could advance my game.
“It’s convenient for me doing year 12 as it’s close to home. I already knew a lot of the girls and Tom Bandilovski is a great coach.”
The Hoppers Crossing resident said being able to train at a high intensity all the time was something she had enjoyed.
She has crossed from Hawthorn Magic, where she had been playing Big V and under-18s.
“It has been really great training at a high intensity, you get to learn lots,” she said.
“It’s a great opportunity to learn from older girls and it’s a great learning curve for me being younger.
“I had made the state team before and I’m used to training at a high intensity, playing and training at a higher intensity is more enjoyable.”
Despite being one of the two new teams on the block, O’Hara and her teammates have set big goals.
She said they would love to play finals.
“We want to do well at both ends of the work. We want to work as a team and get as far as we can and hopefully make the final and go all the way.”
As well as combining playing for the Thunder and year 12 studies, O’Hara was recently announced as part of the under-20 Victorian sides for the national championships.
She will be part of the top Victorian team.
O’Hara said she was surprised to be named in the team.
“Being in the state team is always exciting,” she said. “Being bottom age, it’s a great opportunity.
“I guess with everything I’ve done through basketball, I’ve always wanted to put my best foot forward and go from there.
“I’ve worked hard and someone saw something in me they would like in the team, I’m doing something right.
“I’m going to work hard. It’s more opportunities to train and play at a higher intensity.”
