Sport
22 April, 2025
Suns shine at state comp
THE Moreton Bay Suns U16s Fire Boys blazed through the Queensland State Championships in Logan, going undefeated to claim the title from April 5 to 8.
The Suns capped off their dominant run with a 76–67 win over the previously unbeaten Sunshine Coast Phoenix Purple in a hard-fought grand final showdown.
For many in the squad, including standout Kiahn Crouch, it was their first taste of state-level hoops — and they made it count.
Kiahn said the experience was one to remember.
“It was pretty good, I really enjoyed myself playing there and just spending a lot of time with the team,” he said.
“I really liked meeting different people from all around the place.
“I felt pretty nervous at the start, but after going through the season, I felt pretty comfortable in my ability and what my role was to do.”
He said the Suns entered the tournament full of belief, and their preparation paid off in gold.
“I felt pretty good when we won gold, because at first we were losing but we just kept going for the ball, playing defense or everyone going for the boards, and we ended up winning,” he said.
“Once we won, everyone was really excited and happy, it was the first state championship for most of us and second for some of us.”
Kiahn was a key piece in the Suns’ success, emerging as the top scorer of the entire competition.
He averaged a red-hot 26.3 points per game, including a monster 35-point haul in the semifinal.
Behind the on-court heroics is a rock-solid training schedule.
Kiahn’s commitment to improvement is clear.
“I train four nights a week, and I also attend the Rising Suns Academy down at Morayfield,” he said.
“This allows me to do extra training to help focus on smaller things like shooting and guarding.
“I also recently attended a special training camp to audition to be picked up by an Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) team.”
With a state title under his belt and big aspirations ahead, Kiahn Crouch is definitely one to watch.
