Basketball Mount Gambier’s Simon Berkefeld had an outstanding weekend as a member of the Lakers’ Senior Men’s side which competed in the 2019 A Grade Country Championships at Starplex, Gawler last weekend. Berkefeld was voted Most Valuable Player of the A Grade competition and received the Frank Clark Award. He was also judged MVP in the Grand Final, the Pat O’Keeffe Award, in which the Lakers went down to Port Pirie 74-76 in over-time.  Simon continues his exceptional career in the Country Championships as a member of successful teams and winner of many individual Awards.

Much of the credit for organising and coaching the team must go to former Lakers’ and Pioneers’ player Chris Mason, who managed to field a team of current and past players to represent Mount Gambier. The countless hours he spent in forming a team reflects the passion he and Simon Berkefeld have for the annual Senior Country Championships. The Lakers CBL Men played a semi-final on Saturday night, seriously limiting numbers for this second team.

Mason has been a member of previous winning teams and a multiple winner of the prestigious MVP award. Kyle Tipene, Brad Rathjen, Riley Thomson, Sean King and Marcel Last along with Mason and Berkefeld formed the team which achieved results well above expectations.

The Lakers played 5 games for the weekend, opening with an 83-67 win over Keith, a newcomer to A Grade and followed up with a solid 75-60 win against Great Southern.

The Qualifying Final saw the Lakers advance on the back of a 67-47 win against Barossa Valley. The semi-final clash against arch rival Eastern Hills was typical of their close, tough and physical contests. The Lakers came out victors by just 1 point and hence secured a place in the Grand Final against highly fancied Port Pirie.

The Grand Final proved to be a fitting end to the Championships. The scores were close throughout as Port Pirie applied relentless pressure on the Lakers, who were “running on empty”. The Lakers managed to draw level at regulation time and then into over-time for a result. Port Pirie led narrowly only to see the Lakers level on several occasions. The last gasp shot to snare a win for the gallant Lakers rimmed out to give Port Pirie the 2019 title 76-74. The Lakers, down on numbers, were disappointed but they can take pride in having had a “fair dinkum crack” throughout the weekend.     

Former Mount Gambier umpire Danika Jolley officiated in the Men’s A Grade Final.