Talented Mount Gambier junior basketballers, Lauren Ross and Bella Stratford, are members of the SA Country Under 16 State Basketball Team which finished a creditable fifth position out of fourteen in the Australian Championships.

The SA Country girls made a promising start in Ulverstone, Tasmania, winning their first two games of the Championships. They defeated host state Tasmania on Opening Ceremony day, 66-58 and followed up the next day by easily accounting for WA Country 85-52.

On Monday SA Country made a solid start against the eventual champion, Queensland South only to see inconsistency and a low shooting percentage prove costly. Queensland South took over in the second half for a final result of 86-49.

Tuesday presented a tough assignment in the form of a double header. They went down to first opponent New Zealand, 66-70, in a game of missed opportunities. Their surges were positive placing the team in a winning position, but then punctuated by lapses and errors.

The biggest challenge of the week came in their second game of the day against junior basketball powerhouse, Victoria Metro. SA Country led for all but the last 2 minutes of the first half then trailed by just 6, 30-36 at half time. Vic. Metro however found another gear in the second half to ran out winner 78-52.

SA Country rounded off the pool games with a strong win against NSW Country, 68-53, to secure fourth place and a quarter final meet with Victoria Country, leader in the other pool.

The SA Country girls were no match for a ruthless Vic. Country and suffered their biggest loss for the week, 94-48.

It was pleasing to see the players bounce back in the first of the play offs for positions 5 to 8 when they easily accounted for ACT, 70-54. This result gave them a rematch against New Zealand and the chance to reverse their 4 point loss of earlier in the week in the battle for fifth ranking of the Championships.

The SA Country girls were equal to the task and won 57-50.

Lauren Ross was a member of the starting five for the team and can feel well satisfied with the capable and effective way in which she carried out her job as a key role player within the team structure. The work done in these roles was not fully reflected in statistics but were important in the overall team performances.      

Bella Stratford, a first year player in this age group, made the most of her court time and gained valuable experience playing at this elite level of competition.

 Queensland South won the Women’s Grand Final in a one point thriller against SA Metro.

The SA Country Men finished eighth while Queensland North is the champion Men’s team after a thrilling 4 point win against Vic. Metro, making it an all Queensland championship.