Sport
23 July, 2025
Slam dunk for Kiahn in one-on-one comp
MORETON Bay Suns basketball player, Kiahn Crouch, won gold in the National One-on-One Basketball Association (NOOBA) U16 Queensland grand final.
The grand final, held on Wednesday, July 9, is a unique spin on the well-known sport of basketball, where players go head to head on court.
Kiahn’s grand final match was a best-out-of-three tournament, with both himself and the other grand finalist, Mason Willis, representing the Rising Suns Basketball Academy, which is based in Morayfield.
The inaugural tournament was hosted at Toowoomba by Coach Pops Dickerson’s SuperCamp.
Kiahn said that from the moment he heard of one-on-one basketball, he knew it would be something he’d be interested in trying. He said that what he enjoys most about the new form sport is the new rules and competing, and it has improved his skills.
“When I first stepped onto the court for my first one-on-one match, I was nervous but confident in my abilities,” he said.
“Skills I have learnt through playing one-on-one is to predict what the other player would do.
“It has also taught me to be more fast-paced and react quickly, and I would say it has definitely made me more confident.”
Kiahn added that before a one-on-one basketball match, he gets in the zone, and surprised himself on the court. “I didn’t realise how competitive I would be and how much I wanted to win,” he said.
“What makes one-on-one different is the rules and how I’m able to challenge a foul and discussing it with the refs.
“I recommend this game to people because it’s fun, fast-paced and really competitive, it’s amazing.”
Kiahn is now ranked number one in Queensland.
