In a four-week period that has also seen Opals stars Lauren Jackson and Tess Madgen visit the region, the Burdekin’s young basketballers were treated to another special guest on the weekend when Townsville Fire head coach Shannon Seebohm and his S3 Academy team hit the courts for a high-energy skills clinic.
Hosted in partnership with Burdekin Basketball, the event saw Seebohm—joined by his wife Jaimee and assistant coach Miles—run a day of hands-on training sessions focused on teamwork, energy, and passion for the game.
Seebohm, a five-time WNBL Coach of the Year and current assistant coach of the Australian Opals, has an impressive record of developing athletes who’ve gone on to succeed in the WNBL, NBL, WNBA, and international leagues.
Burdekin Basketball organisers said the visit gave local juniors a major boost.
“Thank you to S3 Academy—Shannon, Jaimee and Miles—for visiting the Burdekin and helping to encourage and extend our junior ballers,” the club said. “They all thoroughly enjoyed their sessions.”
The S3 team praised the region’s community spirit and enthusiasm, describing the Burdekin as having a “beautiful, family-first culture that truly loves the game.”
The day wrapped up with a hearty lunch courtesy of Queens Hotel Ayr, which the S3 crew thanked for their “amazing hospitality and good vibes.”
It was, in every sense, a slam dunk for local basketball.