Mount Gambier’s Junior Basketball State representatives were all strong contributors in the 2011 Australian Country Junior Basketball Cup conducted in Albury last week.

The eleven Junior Lakers impressed state officials with their physical fitness, skill levels and attitude. Mount Gambier Junior Development Officer, Trevor Semmens was particularly pleased with their efforts and application. He commented on how hard they had worked in the pre-Cup program and the consequent improvements shown in their performances at the Cup.

The Magpies Under 14 Girls team was the most successful of the twelve strong SA Country teams which competed in Cup Twenty Five. Junior Laker Rachael Hines was the outstanding player in the Magpies team, which was undefeated in the minor rounds and then scored a tough semi-final win over NSW Waratahs, 58-54. Magpies played off in the Title Game against NSW Kookaburras and after an even first half, Kookas took control and ran out comfortable winners 75-62.Hines averaged more than 12 points per game and bagged her highest game tally of 18 against Tasmania.

The Sharks Under 16 and 18 Girls teams played off in semi-finals.

The Sharks Under 16 Girls were led by Captain, Georgia Green and Malinda Markiewicz. Both turned in huge performances over the week and played significant roles in the team’s second standing in the pool.

Brianna Walters and Morgan Amy were members of the Magpies team. They too were key players for their side. Injuries however dented their chances of going all the way.

Walters had an outstanding opening, scoring 20 points in their heart breaking one point loss to Vic Bushrangers. Amy unfortunately injured her knee at a crucial time in this game. They finished third in their pool and met Sharks in the quarter final. The match was a close affair in which Green and Markiewicz dominated for the Sharks. An ankle injury to Walters in a previous game kept her on the bench for this important one. Final scores were 60-56 in favour of Sharks. Sharks then struggled against the hard nosed defence applied by NSW Kookaburras in the semi-final and went down, 41-47. Markiewicz led her side’s scoring with 9 points.

Sam Loughhead was a member of the Sharks Under 18 team, which also made the semi-final round. They finished third in their pool while the more fancied Magpies finished second in theirs. These rankings saw them meet in a bruising quarter final in which no questions were asked and no answers given. Solid team play at critical times in the game by Sharks produced a 10 point win in which Loughhead scored 8 points.

Vic. Goldminers, eventual title winners were then far too strong and talented for the Sharks in the semi-final. Loughhead displayed solid form throughout the week.

The SA Country Boys’ teams found the going tough. The Under 18 teams finished third in their pools. In the quarter finals title winners Bushrangers easily accounted for Magpies and Sharks were unlucky to go down to Kookaburras by two. Junior Lakers Jak Ryan and Jackson Trappett were members of Magpies. Ryan impressed his coaches during the week and drew comments on the improvements in his game while Trappett turned in some solid efforts. Matthew Markiewicz made the most of his minutes as a member of the Sharks line-up.

Kane deWit worked hard and showed sound form in the Magpies Under 16 team, which finished fifth in their pool. They won one of their three playoff games on Friday and Saturday.

Brad Rathjen played in the Magpies Under 14 Boys’ team. After finishing fourth in their pool, they lost the quarter final, 41-49 to final winner NSW Waratahs. They then finished the week on a winning note by defeating Sharks by three, 45-42. Rathjen was consistent in his efforts throughout the Cup.

The world’s best women’s basketballer, Lauren Jackson returned to her home town of Albury to take part in the historic Closing Ceremony. Dates for the 2012 Cup were announced as January 16^th to 21^st.