MOUNT Gambier had a successful weekend away at the South Australian Country Basketball Championships recently.
The Lakers’ men, under playing coach Chris Mason, won the senior A Grade men’s title, while the Under 18 girls secured the 2018 Division 1 championship for their age group.
Over the years the Lakers’ men have earned the reputation of the team to beat at the championships and this win marked their third A Grade title in four years.
Defeating Murray Bridge in the final for 2015 and Port Pirie in 2016, this year saw the men defeat rival Eastern Hills in the championship game.
Going through the five-team competition undefeated, the Lakers defeated Port Pirie 59-39 in the semi-final.
In the big game, Mount Gambier claimed a 58-45 victory over Eatern Hills to claim the title.
Simon Berkefeld was in dangerous form in finals, scoring 21 points in the semi, before bagging another 20 in the final.
His efforts also saw him awarded the Pat O’Keeffe trophy for most-valuable-player of the grand final.
Berkefeld and Mason were joined by Brad Rathjen, Brad Close, Kyle Tipene, Jason Nysten, Matt Berkefeld and Riley Thomson to make up the championship team.
The Lakers’ Under 18 girls Division 1 team also went through the tournament undefeated.
This was a fitting result for coach Dan Stratford, who has now transferred to Adelaide for his teaching career.
With a late withdrawal from Yorke Valley, the competition was reduced to four teams.
Making it through the minor rounds untouched, the Lakers scored a convincing 41-13 win against Whyalla in the semi-final.
In the final, they were able to shake off a determined Strathalbyn in the first half and record an eventual 42-28 win.
The squad is made up of a talented and strong group of players who showed composure in running team structures and finished off with high-percentage shots.
Bella Stratford, Molly Watson, Jordy Adams and Emily Close led the scoring and were well supported by Madisyn Freeman, Eliza Hunter, Keryl Ousey and Ellen Brown.
A total of 12 junior Lakers teams will compete in the Portland Junior South West Classic this weekend.
The teams include the Under 12 Boys Division 1 and 2, Under 12 Girls, Under 14 Boys Division 1, 2 and 3, Under 14 Girls Division 1 and 2, Under 16 Boys Division 1 and 2, Under 16 Girls Division 1 and Under 18 Boys Division 1.
