The Lakers Under 18 basketballers won both Division 1 SA Country Championship titles played in Adelaide over last weekend. The Lakers Women, coached by Association Development Officer, Trevor Semmens scored a comfortable win, 56-33, over Eastern Hills after a rather slow start. The Lakers Men on the other hand appeared to have the title well within their grasp at three quarter time, but then survived a withering 15-4 run home by Eastern Hills. Final scores were 50-47. Coach Warwick Kettle praised the Lakers for the manner in which they stuck to the job in hand and did not panic during the hectic final quarter.

These two championships are fitting rewards for the top age players and especially Matt Parslow and Matt Markiewicz, who have collected several   Division 1 runner-up medallions over the years. Other players in the team are Brad Tiller, Robert Hein, Dellon Brown, Tim Childs, Kane deWit, Marcel Last and Sam Stafford.

Both teams remained undefeated over the championships. The Lakers women easily accounted for their six opponents in an amended draw after Port Augusta withdrew just hours before the Championships started.  They defeated Eastern Hills 54-24, pre-championship favourite Yorke Valley 48-17, Murray Bridge 54-35, Millicent 49-39, Riverland 53-20 and Port Pirie 46-37.

Throughout the weekend they impressed with their team discipline and structure, which produced class performances. Top age players Sam Loughhead, Emily Stafford and Alycia Close complement the talented group of first year players in Malinda Markiewicz, Brianna Walters, Kelly       Lock wood, Georgia Green and Ebony McDiarmid.

The Lakers men scored easy wins against Murray Bridge, Port Pirie and Roxby Downs, but were extended by Eastern Hills in their Pool games. They defeated Strathalbyn 49-28 in the quarter final and Murray Bridge 40-27 in the semi-final.

The hard luck story of the championships belongs to the Lakers Under 14 Divison 1 Girls, who have enjoyed outstanding successes over the “Town Team” season. This competition proved to be of a high standard and most even resulting in minimal margins in most games. The Lakers finished first in their pool after getting over Yorke Valley by one point and easily defeated Willunga in the quarter final but then bowed out of the competition after a semi-final one point loss in overtime to eventual champion Broken Hill.  

Coach Rohan Harrap has done an outstanding job in his first stint of coaching junior town teams. He praised the efforts of the players and applauded their achievements. The team had won 27 games on end this season until this semi-final loss.    

These successes are the outcomes of many hours of training and on court team-work. Tenille Gray, Brenna McKay, Olivia Dukalskis and Sara Smith led team-mates well in the championship matches.

 The Lakers Under 14 Division 1 team, coached by Matt Markiewicz, finished the season in the top four of SA Country. They defeated Strathalbyn                                

51-31 in the quarter final but then went down to Great Southern 24-44 in the semi-final. Overall this was their best team performance for the season. All eight players were consistent contributors; Damon Argy, Brodie Clark, Zach deWit, Michael Harris, Lachlan Hunter, Brodie Jolley, Shaun Lock and Emmerson White.

The Under 14 Boys Division 3 team, under the guidance of Leanne Kennett, was ranked third in their pool after defeating Whyalla and going down to Mildura and Great Southern. They were defeated by Naracoorte’s number one team in the quarter final, 28-49.

Mason Hein, Kurt Rodis and Brayden Hateley played well over the weekend.

The Lakers Under 12 and 16 teams are now in their final weeks of preparation for the SA Country Championships to be played over the weekend of March 24^th and 25^th at metropolitan stadiums. A record 109 teams have nominated in the 16 divisions of this premier event.