Naracoorte Junior Basketball Tournament
Mount Gambier junior basketball representative teams featured strongly in the annual Naracoorte Junior Tournament last weekend. Two teams won finals; Under 12 Girls and Under 14 Boys Div.2. Three teams finished runner-up in their respective grades; Under 18 Men, Under 16 Girls Div.2, and Under 12 Boys.
Two teams, the Under 12 Boys and Girls came through the minor rounds unscathed. The Lakers girls put together easy wins over opponents, Millicent and Bordertown, in their four games on Saturday. On Sunday they continued their solid form in the final against Millicent to win the division 39-15.
Meanwhile the Lakers Under 12 Boys accounted for Millicent’s second team, Bordertown, Naracoorte and Keith on Saturday and maintained their unbeaten record against Bordertown on Sunday. These results led to a rematch against Naracoorte in the grand final when the host Association team turned a 17 point deficit into a 7 point win. The Lakers fell back into individual efforts at critical times in the final after basing wins on sound team work in earlier games.
Mount Gambier fielded two teams in the Under 14 Boys competition. The Blue team finished third in Pool A and went on to defeat Keith in the Division 2 final. The Gold team finished second in Pool B but then lost to Millicent in a semi-final, which went into double overtime for a result. Naracoorte A defeated Millicent in this Division 1 final.
The Lakers Under 18 Men compiled big scores over Keith, Bordertown and Naracoorte, but drew with Warrnambool on a last gasp three from Dellon Brown on Sunday morning.
Warrnambool however grabbed a three point win in the final, 36-33. Defences dominated the final as both sides applied pressure all over the court. It was a pleasing effort when one takes into account the fact that the Lakers were missing key players.
The Lakers Under 16 Division 2 Girls improved dramatically over the weekend and gained a place in the final by finishing with a 4-1 win/loss record. They could not however match a strong Bordertown line-up in both the minor round game and the final.
The Under 14 Girls Division 2 side has had limited outings this season and players took some time to adapt to the lift in intensity. They drew with Millicent, lost to one of the Naracoorte sides and beat the other, lost to Bordertown and defeated Keith. Bordertown and Naracoorte played off in the final.
The Lakers Division 1 teams are now preparing for the annual Portland Junior Tournament next weekend. Portland is the last major Tournament for the Lakers Under 14 and 18 teams before the 2011 SA Country Basketball Junior Championships being played over the weekend of 12th. 13th and 14th.
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