Lithgow Lazers star player Matur Maluach recently played in the NSW team that went to Darwin for the Combined High School championships.
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Maluach, 18, currently attends Newington College in Sydney and plays basketball for them under the guidance of renowned coach Rex Nottage.
Maluach was an integral part of this team and played a major role in helping this team win the CHS competition.
“It was good, we played some pretty challenging teams in Victoria and Queensland,” he said.
“In the round games Victoria beat us, but then we beat them in finals, which was great in itself.”
Maluach played in all the games, using his all-rounder skills to put NSW on top.
This was the second time Maluach was in the NSW team after representing the state in 2017.
“I was actually really fortunate to be in the team that competed in Canberra,” he said.
He was then rewarded by being picked in the Australian Combined High School Team in 2017.
Maluach was a major part of the senior Lazers roster in 2018, as a great team player and a prominent scorer for the team.
Lithgow Lazers coach Richard Marjoram was very impressed with his all round ability and said he will go on to bigger and better things in the basketball environment.
Maluach enjoyed playing with Lazers teammate and friend Jaidyn Goodwin because they had played three seasons together at Newington College.
“It was really good actually, getting to play with Jaidyn because I have played with him before, so he dragged me into this team,” he said.
It was great, I really enjoyed it.
- Matur Maluach
Maluach said the Lazers had many strengths as a team.
“I think we were quick as a team, obviously we had quick guards, we could get down the floor and score fast breaks,” he said.
“We also had an ability to switch on defence with some really strong people that play defence.”
Maluach was also recognised by other coaches in the Waratah State League as he was named in the All Star Five of the League. An incredible feat for someone in their first senior tournament.
“I was grateful but it shouldn’t only go to me, we need a whole team to make it that far, and I am happy I got it but it should really go to the whole team,” Maluach said.
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“This is a great honour for someone so young playing in his first senior team,” coach Marjoram said.
“With this type of performance he will surely follow in the footsteps of his best mate Jaidyn Goodwin and go to college in America.”
Maluach said he was planning to go to the USA to play college basketball next year in August and would see where that took him.
“I really want to thank the people of Lithgow for coming out and supporting our team, Richard our coach for coaching us this year and helping us grow as players and his wife who is always at the games cheering us on and looking after the team.”