The 2012 City of Mount Gambier Junior Basketball Tournament has been hailed as the best regional tournament in the state by Jason Bald, SA Country Development/High Performance Manager. Two of the factors underpinning this comment were the magnificent volunteer efforts of many members of the Mount Gambier Association and the standard of competition especially in the younger age groups.

 The prior preparation and running of this annual event involving ten basketball courts in the city as well as having 14 Junior Lakers participating requires a huge commitment from the local basketball community.

The support of City of Mount Gambier and local business houses also plays a critical part in this success, enabling the event to be offer blue ribbon hospitality to the thousands of visitors to the city.       

One hundred and two junior basketball teams from country SA and Victoria played in twenty one divisions of the four age groups, Under 12, 14, 16 and 18 Boys and Girls. There were some 250 games to decide the winner in each division.  

One of the many highlights of the Tournament was the overall success of the Junior Lakers teams. The Lakers won all four of the Girls Division 1 competitions.

The Under 12 Girls scored an exciting win over arch rival Great Southern in the final, 19-18.Coach Marianne Walters claimed a solid team effort and a gain in confidence led to the success. Emily Close won the Coach’s award.    

The Under 14 Girls’ Division 1 six team competition was tough and produced a high standard of play. The Lakers team, under the guidance of Dan Stratford, scored an impressive 42-27 win over hot favourite Great Southern, who was undefeated in the minor rounds. The Lakers girls bounced back to convert an 11 point minor round loss into a 15 point win.

Talented sportswoman Olivia Dukalskis received the Coach’s award.

The Lakers Under 16 girls made it three wins from three tournaments by defeating Millicent 31-22 in the final. Coach Bryan Green has this team using its depth of talent effectively. The Coach’s award went to Tenille Gray, who is considered unlucky by many not to have been named in the SA Country state squad.   

The Lakers Under 18 Women continued their unbeaten record which now extends over two town team seasons, by winning the final against Millicent 34-21. Sate Under 18 player Ebony McDiarmid received the Coach’s award.

Coaches Jimmy Fleming and Matt Markiewicz are pleased with the achievements of the Lakers Under 16 Boys squad in winning both Division 1 and 2 finals at the weekend. The Division 1 side defeated Eastern Hills 59-42 with Todd Lockwood named for the Coach’s award. The Division 2 team is steadily improving as reflected in their 39-33 win against Casterton in the final. Coach Markiewicz selected Zach deWit for his Coach’s award.

The second Lakers Under 14 Girls were very excited about their 32-24 Division 3 final win against Keith. Coach Anthony Holmes commented on the obvious improvement the team had made over the Tournament and presented his Coach’s award to Zoe Duncan.

Two other Lakers sides played off in finals. The Lakers second Under 12 Girls side was runner-up to Bordertown, 6-30. Jamie Ryan is improving in each representative game and received the Coach’s award.

The Lakers Under 18 Men went into their final against Murray Bridge quietly confident after having easily accounted for Murray Bridge at the river town carnival last month. Murray Bridge applied pressure from the first jump ball and had the Lakers on the back foot. Accurate shooting by Kane deWit took the game into overtime and then Brad and Nat Wright stepped up to secure a 62-56 win for Murray Bridge. Coach Jordan Hollitt praised his players on producing a 40 point plus turn-around since the sides last meeting. Quiet achiever Robert Hein received the Coach’s award.

The Association is now reviewing this Tournament and is beginning preliminary preparations for the 2013 event, scheduled for November 16^th and 17^th.