Lady Braves to host Australian team

The La Conner High girls’ basketball team is used to being atop league standings.

Pretty soon the Lady Braves will also get a glimpse of what life’s like Down Under.

That’s because undefeated La Conner is scheduled to face an Australian select team Jan. 6 at Landy James Gym.

The Lady Braves will tip off against the Mornington Breakers, who have been touring the Pacific Northwest, in an “international friendly” starting at 6 p.m.

“This is something we’re really looking forward to,” La Conner head coach Scott Novak said Sunday, “because it’s the first time our girls have hosted an Australian team.”

The La Conner boys’ program has previously hosted Australian travel squads, and Novak said the experience has always been special.

The Aussie entourage, which hails from a popular coastal area near Melbourne, includes nine players and six adults. Novak and La Conner Schools officials are seeking host families for the Mornington group’s overnight stay.

“Anyone whose family is interested in hosting an Australian — or two — can contact me,” urges Novak, whose phone number is 360-333-1321.

In addition to playing a full slate of games, the Australian players have been comparing Puget Sound to the Mornington Peninsula, noted for its ocean beaches and rich history. It is site of the state of Victoria’s first British settlement more than two centuries ago and is where Australian Rules Football began.