Blacktown Storm hosts a triple header for the 2026 First Nations Round
This past weekend, the City of Blacktown Basketball Association had the privilege to host three Waratah Senior League games during the Basketball NSW First Nations’ Round and celebrate National NAIDOC Week. This is a time where the entire basketball community and nation can celebrate the cultures and traditions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders communities.
All three games had a mixture of music created by Australia’s First Nation’s peoples, hyping up the teams before each tip-off and following each Blacktown basket. The community was also greeted by the Ross family on entry, where traditional bracelets were created and given out upon request. Proud Gameroi man and CBBA Ford Aussie Hoops Head Coach, Thomas Ross, provided the Acknowledgement of Country before each game, wearing the 2026 Blacktown Storm First Nations Round T-Shirt, courtesy of Soul Sports. He reflected on the history of the (now) Great Western Highway as a walkway for many local Aboriginal Communities to gather and move together on their journeys.
Your Waratah 1 Youth Women began the night with a solid showing against a strong Sydney Comets team but ultimately came up short 60-107. Zoe Abian (16) and Alex Paino (14) led the team with scoring across the match.
Your Waratah Women then took on the visiting Hornsby Ku-Ring-Gai Spiders. Both teams scored at will in the first half; however, the Spiders ran away with the match in the fourth quarter and defeated the Storm 59-88. Dstani Foley (13), Dominique Leuzzi (12), Taylor Newbould (12) and Mirjana Terzic (11) were the main scorers across the Storm women. A lucky spectator had the chance to shoot a half-court shot for $200, but fell just short.
Finally, your 5th place Waratah Men took on the Hornsby Ku-Ring-Gai Spiders Black. Your Storm Men were determined to get a victory in the push for a play-off finish at the end of July and finished the game up 20 winning 77-57. Almost all players finished with a bucket, with George Kuyal (12), Noman Massimino (12) and Yohana Henry (10) leading the scoresheet. The Meat Cartel, one of CBBA’s partners, provided a delicious Meat Tray to be raffled off at half-time of the Men’s match: over 90 tickets were sold, with our very own Youth Women player Beth S winning the tray!
Click on the Scores for the full box scores
CBBA thanks all the spectators for attending the 2026 First Nation’s Round at Kevin Betts Stadium! Our next Waratah Senior League home match will be on Saturday 11th July where your Youth League Women take on our local rivals, Penrith Panthers - click here for more details.
And make sure to cheer on the 7 Blacktown Storm Semi-Finalists in the junior league, with more details here!
