Under 18s light up home tournament

WANGARATTA Basketball played host to 55 junior representative teams from across the North East and southern New South Wales from Saturday in what was a monster weekend of hoops. The Warriors had eight teams competing across division one and two sides in their second annual under 16 and under 18 tournament in Wodonga, with the under 18s divisions one boys leading the way and winning their division over Wodonga in the grand final 50-41 on Sunday. The tournaments have so far been hosted in Wodonga while the association waits for the construction of the new basketball courts at the Wangaratta Sports and Aquatic Centre, which is expected to play host to the under 16s and under 18s Wangaratta tournament next year. Wangaratta Basketball president Adam Maher said it was an extremely positive weekend for the association. “It’s always a challenge being away from home but it’s a credit to the Wangaratta basketball community to all come together and try to get the job done,” he said. “Hopefully we’re getting there with our stadium, but the tournament really came off well and it was a great outcome for everyone involved.” Maher said the association had taken a slightly different approach to the tournament since hosting the event, introducing a shot clock and playing 10 minute quarters rather than 20 minute halves in all divisions, which had been well received and gave teams a taste of the bigger Junior Country Championships format in February. “Sometimes it’s a new experience for some of the athletes as well as the parents but I think most enjoy it, it’s a good setup and there’s not many tournaments you go to throughout the year, certainly for division one teams to play and get that experience with shot clocks and quarters,” he said. Out of the Junior Warriors teams the under 18s boys and one of the two under 18s girls division one teams played off in grand finals. While the girls fell short to the Wodonga Wolves in their last game, the boys went through tournament play without a loss led by the Newton brothers Blake and Cooper, with Blake’s 24 points in the grand final enough to guide the Warriors home. “They absolutely played fantastic,” Maher said. “The side came together and looked really impressive and got the result in the end, it was a great game to watch.” Maher thanked the Wangaratta basketball community for its commitment to holding a successful tournament, with the organisation to now turn its attention to the under 12s and under 14s tournament in March back at Wodonga.

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