YMCA basketball initiative in Rockingham

Mike Barnett Sports Complex will be red hot this Friday night, with an evening featuring the Rockingham Flames against the Cockburn Cougars also set to include a special three-point shootout.

The YMCA’s World Challenge is set take place between the women’s and men’s games on Friday night, as five lucky junior Flames state basketball players will pair up with YMCA staff, with the pairs playing each other.

The competition is designed to bring young people together, with the theme in 2017 focusing on empowering young people through basketball.

YMCA WA acting executive manager of service delivery Brooke Draper said basketball was a big part of the community and the special challenge was a fun way of showing the life lessons you can learn through the sport.

“It’s not only great for everyone to see the skills required to play but also the discipline, teamwork, endurance and passion that goes into it,” she said.

“I think the junior basketballers will be teaching our staff a few things on the night!”

Each team will have the opportunity to shoot from five different positions around the three-point line and the winning team will be the one that accumulates the most points.

Doors open at Mike Barnett from 6pm with the women’s tip off at 6.30pm.

The World Challenge event will start at 8pm before the men take to the court at 8.30pm.