The 2014 SA Country Junior Basketball teams competing in the Australian Country Junior Basketball Cup in Albury, NSW produced the best results in the history of the Cup since its inception in 1987.

Twelve Boys and Girls teams representing SA Country in the age groups of Under 14, 16 and 18 competed in the week long competitions in extremely hot weather conditions and won four of the six 2014 titles. 

SA Country had six of the twelve teams playing in the Under 14, 16 and 18 title games. The Under 14 and 16 Girls’ teams the Sharks and Magpies played off in two all SA Country grand finals with titles going to the Sharks. The Sharks Under 14 Boys’ team won the Grand Final against NSW Kookaburras 75-55 and the SA Magpies Under 16 Boys reversed their minor round result to defeat Vic. Bushrangers 57-53. To add to these achievements, the two SA Country Under 18 Girls’ teams played off in the semi-finals.

Six Basketball Mount Gambier junior players were members of the victorious teams. They are Tenille Gray and Brianna McKay (Captain) in the Under 16 Girls’ Sharks, Olivia Patzel and Madisyn Freeman in the Under 14 Girls’ Sharks team and Lachlan Hunter and Kurt Rodis in the Under 16 Boys’ Magpies. Three other Junior Lakers played off in Grand Finals, Mary Wilson, Bella Stratford and Jordyn Adams. Former junior Laker, Mitchell Harris was a member of the Sharks Under 14 Boys’ team.

There was a new look about the 2014 SA Country Cup contingent. Newly appointed SA High Performance Manager, David Ingham, has very quickly put his stamp on SA Country Basketball. His enthusiasm and demands for standards on and off the court generated a feeling of positivity and unified direction within the group. The return of several experienced and capable coaches, all of whom have enjoyed success at national level, added stability and leadership to age groups.

There were many impressive performances over “Cup Week” and none better than the achievements of the Under 14 and 16 Girls. All four SA country teams were undefeated for the week until they met in the respective grand finals. In the Under Under 16 Girls’ final Lakers’ Tenille Gray, a member of the Sharks’ team, capped off an outstanding week with a 22 point haul, Brenna Mckay worked tirelessly inside while Mary Wilson, a member of the Magpies team, made dramatic improvement as the week unfolded. Olivia Patzel and Madisyn Freeman made the most of their court time as members of the victorious Under 14 team. Basketball Mount Gambier Junior Development Officer, Trevor Semmens was coach of the Magpies Under 14 Girls along with Bella Stratford and Jordyn Adams as players.  

The title by the Magpies Under 16 Boys resulted from strong team efforts. The team scored a 73-70 semi-final win in double overtime against NSW Kookaburras after they had been easily beaten by this team 40-71 earlier in the week. Vic. Bushrangers went into the final confident of a win having defeated the Magpies 68-54 in the minor rounds. The Magpies however reversed this result to the tune of 57-53 in the final. Lachlan Hunter returned to the court mid-week after injuring his ankle in training. He did a great job inside the paint, while Kurt Rodis played consistently well as he gained in self-confidence.

Lakers Under 18 player, Sam Stafford was a prolific scorer for his team and bagged 48 points in one game. Mount Gambier’s Bryan Green impressed in his first state Under 18 Men’s coaching role.              

The “icing on the cake” came for Brenna McKay and Tenille Gray when they were named in the Australian Country Cup Under 16 team to compete in the Pacific Junior Basketball Tournament in Aukland New Zealand over Easter.