How Boomers camp can unlock Cairns High’s full potential

The Australian national basketball team chose Cairns as its base for a crucial selection camp leading into the World Cup, and it’s provided the perfect opportunity to showcase Bou-Wa (the Centennial Hall) to more of the sporting world.

The likes of Australian basketball superstars Patty Mills and Joe Ingles are training, working out and getting in crucial reps with the rest of the 18-man squad on the same courts more regularly used by teenagers.

The journey started months ago courtesy of a few photos, social media, and a close basketball network.

THE POST

A Facebook post with a few images of Cairns High’s state-of-the-art, $12.1 million new hall ignited a months-long process in which the high school has become the centre of the Australian basketball consciousness.

Posted by Cairns High staff member with links to BA, the right person saw it at the right time and through a long conversation the subject turned to whether or not the school could be capable of hosting a team which carries the nation’s hopes on it’s shoulders.

“It’s about the network,” said Cairns High principal Christopher Zilm.

“We’ve got ex-Taipans, we have former national team members and players among the group.

“One of them put up a photo of the space, someone from Basketball Australia saw it, and one thing led to another.

“Patty Mills had a fair bit to do with it, they’re getting back to their roots - it’s a big thing for the camp.

“People are seeing what this space can be.”

IN PATTY WE TRUST

The FIBA World Cup will be held across Philippines, Japan and Indonesia from August 25, and with games likely to be played in hot and humid conditions, Basketball Australia looked north.

And when Boomers and NBA star Mills made it known he was keen to do something in the Far North, the stars aligned perfectly for Cairns High to make a play.

“We were looking for a warmer climate to do some of our preparations in to get the guys acclimatised and environmentally ready for when we go to Japan, and when we make the finals they’re at Manilla, where it’s hot, and we wanted to try to replicate that type of environment,” said BA director of national teams and former Boomer Jason Smith.

“The weather hasn’t been great since we been here, but that was the initial discussion.

“In Australia, made sense to go north, but Patty brought it to our attention initially that he’d like to do something in Far North Queensland.”

“I’ve been talking Geoff (Mayes, head of sport) and Anthony (Easton, vice principal) about what our needs were of a facility and if they could accommodate our sometimes fairly onerous requests, and they’ve been incredible to accommodate us,” Smith said.

“Not only is the facility unbelievable and fitting for what we need as far as the space, state of the art floor … they’ve been just so easy and great to work with.

“When you get a combination like that, you want to take advantage of it.

“It's ticked every box for us, and we’re extremely lucky and fortunate they’ve been accommodating to us.”

THE RELATIONSHIP

The state-of-the-art school hall might tick every box but Smith stressed just how important - and crucial - the relationship between BA and Cairns SHS is as the Boomers go about their business largely behind closed doors.

It is one thing to have a facility which suits the needs of the national team, but it’s another for the people from both camps to be on the same page.

“The facilities are nuts, but I want to stress just how good the relationship is … I can’t say more about Chris, Anthony and Geoff,” Smith said.

“They’ve been so easy and good to deal with, it makes my life a helluva lot easier.

“When you think about the process of obtaining a facility like this for our needs, we’d definitely go back.”

THE IMPORTANCE

The widest interest in this camp is about which individuals will make the Boomers’ 12-man squad for the FIBA World Cup.

Head coach Brian Goorjian and his staff will cut the squad from 18 contenders to the 12-man group who will carry a nation’s hopes on its shoulders next month, and the super coach has underlined the importance of this training camp in Cairns to their success.

“We’re excited to be in Cairns,” Goorjian said.

“The facilities are really nice and it’s a real good set-up for us up here. Our lifestyle will be great up here, we’ll be able to be by ourselves a bit and build the culture as well.

“It was unanimous. We ran it by the leadership group, everybody was hands-in and excited to be here.”

It’s understood the Boomers will play a game on Sunday, with a clash against University of Houston on Wednesday night.

THE FUTURE 1

Smith doesn’t hesitate when asked if BA would consider a future return to Cairns High with other national programs.

In fact, if other national teams want to be based in Australia and need to replicate a hot and humid climate, he knows exactly where he will point them.

“Without a doubt,” he said.

“The international teams we talk to, if they’re looking for a base in Australia and in the north, that’s where I’d be pointing to.

“Our experience to date has been amazing, incredibly positive, and that’s what I would express to anyone who asked.

“In terms of national teams, if there’s a camp or preparation requirement and we can move that into a Queensland scenario, absolutely.”

THE FUTURE 2

This camp could become a crucial catapult into a future where a high school hall initially geared towards servicing the community becomes a base for top-tier teams.

But, regardless of the success of this experience, the high school will ensure their No.1 priority will be to those it was intially designed and built for - its students and the communuity.

“We were prepared to have the space used by community groups - we never thought it’d be used for national teams,” said principal Chris Zilm.

matthew.mcinerney1@news.com.au

Originally published as How Boomers camp can unlock Cairns High’s full potential