The 2014 City of Basketball Mount Gambier Junior Basketball tournament maintained its reputation of being the best outside the metropolitan last weekend when the host association offered blue ribbon hospitality to almost 100 junior basketballers and their families for the nineteen division event involving more than 250 games.

Three Associations, Millicent (u 18 W and u12 G), Murray Bridge (u12 B and U 14 G), and Mount Gambier 9u18 M and u16 G) each won two Division 1 titles. Forestville (u14 B) and Eastern Hills (u16B) with one each, completed the eight. The two stand-out teams of the Tournament were “book end” teams, Millicent’s Under 12 Girls and Mount Gambier’s Under 18 Men. Both teams were a class above their respective opponents, scoring effortless wins throughout the competitions. Junior Lakers’ Under 12 Girls finished runner-up to the classy Millicent team while the Lakers’ Under 16Boys were defeated by Eastern Hills in the Division 1 final. The Lakers Under 16 Girls Division 2 side, after a very short preparation, were runners-up to Millicent.

Nominations covered Associations from wide areas of country SA and the western districts of Victoria giving the Tournament an interstate challenge flavour. Leading SA metropolitan Club, Forestville, journeyed to the Blue Lake City and thoroughly enjoyed the basketball and social experience. Former Pioneers’ star Jason Joynes liked what he saw and is keen to return in 2014 with his Under 18 boys’ squad. The support of Strathalbyn (13 teams), Murray Bridge and Millicent each 12 deserve a special mention.

The highlights of the Tournament included the consistently high standards of the Division 1 competitions and overall quality refereeing. Many visitors congratulated the local organisers on the smooth running and presentation of the weekend. The competitions achieved an important aim in challenging teams and presenting them with different styles of play.

Basketball Mount Gambier Junior Development Officer, Trevor Semmens was satisfied with the overall performances, but stressed that the players in SA Country squads have a lot of hard work to do in the next few weeks to get to the required fitness and skills levels expected of players, who will be representing their Association and State in January 2014.

The continuing off- court success of the annual Tournament is totally due to the outstanding work and commitment of the volunteers of the Association. The task of running basketball games on 10 courts throughout the City over the weekend is a huge assignment as well as the catering tasks.

The manner in which the many dedicated volunteers left no stone unturned in their efforts played a crucial role in the overall success of the weekend. Proceeds of the Tournament go towards reducing the costs to Junior Lakers players, special projects and education programs.

The popularity of the Tournament is reflected by the move of visiting Associations in already having accommodation booked for the 2014 Tournament, November 15^th and 16^th.