Basketball Program Overview
Mountain Creek State High School's Basketball Excellence Program is dedicated to providing every student with the opportunity to grow and develop themselves through the game of basketball.
The goal is simple: help every student reach their full potential both on and off the court.
We believe in giving students the highest quality education and experience in the game of basketball, no matter their skill level. We focus on developing the fundamentals, a strong fitness base and a high basketball IQ. Every lesson/training session aims to push student's skill levels and game understanding higher through quality coaching and learning experiences that engages and challenges every athlete.
Our program aims to incorporate basketball directly into a student's weekly timetable with before school sessions for juniors, after school sessions for seniors, and basketball class for year 9 and 10, allowing students to focus both on their academic success and their basketball potential.
Our students have access to:
- Indoor training facilities, including commercial gym access
- Pride performance partnership – access to shooting machines
- Sun Coast Clippers partnership – access to court space
- Year 7-9 skill development program (outside school hours)
Competitions:
- Sunshine Coast School Basketball competition
- Champion Basketball School of Queensland competition (CBSQ)
- Australian School's Championship (ASC)
Player Development Schedule
| Team Concepts | Year Level | Player Skills and Understanding |
Advanced offensive tactics (e.g., Motion offense, read and react). Advanced defensive tactics (e.g., switching defences, hybrid defences).
| Yr 11-12 Skill Specialisation and Game Play Analysis
| Advanced finishing moves (Euro step, pro hop, inside hand finishes), reacting to defence, pre-empting options. |
| Implementing offensive strategies and adjusting to defence. Implementing defensive strategies. | Yr 9-10
Skill Refinement
| Pick and roll, fast break, finishes at all three levels (e.g., inside, outside, mid-range), emphasise rebounding fundamentals, reading defences. |
| Developing offensive player movement, positions and plays. Pass cut and replace. Developing defensive principles, jumping to ball, help positions, split line. | Yr 7-8
Core Skill Development
| Lay-ups with both hands, cuts, shooting form, ball handling, pressure passing, footwork, ball fakes, screening, post work. |
Basketball Subject
In years 9 and 10, students specifically study basketball through the ACARA Health and Physical Education curriculum. Students will study topics including Biomechanics and Energy Systems and apply this knowledge to the game of basketball.
Coaching Staff
Name: Zane Meehl
Position: Basketball Program Co-ordinator and Open Boys Basketball Coach
Playing experience:
- 4 Yrs USA College – Azusa Pacific University.
- New Zealand Men's National team representative.
- 20-year career playing in professional and semi-professional leagues through Australia, New Zealand and Asia.
Coaching Experience:
- 10 Years coaching high school basketball and co-ordinating player development at Mountain Creek State High School.
Name: Amy Browne
Position: Open & Intermediate Girls Basketball Coach
Playing experience:
- Current player for Sunshine Coast Phoenix NBL1.
- 4 years USA college basketball - 2 years California Baptist University, 2 years Newberry College.
- 3 years playing semi-professionally for Manchester Mystics in UK.
- 13 years playing semi-professional basketball for Maroochydore Clippers and Sunshine Coast Phoenix.
- Played 200+ games representing Clippers and Phoenix.
Coaching experience:
- 7 years coaching Mountain Creek State High School Open Girls, Intermediate Girls and Junior Girls teams.
- 7 years Coastal District basketball coach.
Name: Geoff Procter
Position: Skill Development Coach and Junior/Intermediate Coach
Playing experience: 2 years University of Western Ontario (Canada).
Coaching experience:
- 17 years Program Coordinator and Creator of the Marsden State High School Basketball Program
- 24 years coaching secondary school basketball for various year levels for both boys and girls.
- Open Boys Sunshine Coast School Boys Coach.
- Coaching at the representative Level for Basketball Associations Mackay Meteors and Meteorettes, Southern Districts Spartans, Logan Thunder, Southwest Metro Pirates and Sunshine Coast RIP.
Name: Bianca Tsakissiris
Position: Junior and Intermediate Girls Basketball Coach, Girls Basketball Strength and Conditioning Coach
Playing experience: 2 years playing Semi Professional Basketball for Maroochydore Clippers
Coaching experience:
- 18 years coaching secondary school basketball for various year levels both boys and girls
- 15 years coaching Mountain Creek Open, Intermediate and Junior Girls Coach
- 3 years NQ Open Girls Schools Basketball
- 3 years William Ross State High Basketball Co-ordinator
- 3 Years Open and Junior Coastal Secondary schools Selector
Past Program Success
- 2024 – Open Girls CBSQ Bronze Medallists
- 2021 – Junior Girls CBSQ Bronze Medallists
- 2011 - Open Girls CBSQ Bronze Medallists
- 2010 – Open Boys CBSQ Gold Medallists
- 2010 – Open Girls National Silver Medallists