WHS basketball teams host Australian squads

The Washougal High School boys and girls basketball teams hosted exhibition games against Australian-based squads on Monday.

The Surfcoast Chargers are a regional representative basketball program for the Surfcoast Basketball Association in Victoria, Australia, fielding teams in the Big V, Country Basketball League, and Victorian Junior Basketball League for men, women, and juniors, focusing on player development. They launched an international tour through the United States and Canada on Dec. 26.

The tour provides “a unique opportunity for Washougal High School athletes to compete at a high level while fostering global connection on and off the court,” according to a news release issued by the WHS Boys Basketball Boosters group.

“Through the two-week partnership with the Aussie Basketball Travellers, the Surfcoast Chargers’ men’s and women’s teams will face high school teams across Portland, Seattle, and Vancouver, British Columbia, sharpening their skills against American competition and offering cultural immersion through home stays with local families, attendance at professional and college sporting events, and sightseeing,” the news release states.