THE Millicent and District Basketball Association held a successful junior tournament on the weekend, with 51 teams playing 106 games across three venues.
The annual tournament was around half its usual size due to COVID-19 restrictions, with Victorian teams unable to attend.
South Australian clubs included the hosts, Mount Gambier, Naracoorte, Bordertown and Keith, which were able to return to some form of normality with children playing sport and interacting.
Millicent entered 16 sides, with nine reaching their respective grand finals.
The Under 12 Boys enjoyed a successful weekend, despite some close games throughout the tournament.
The boys faced Mount Gambier in the final, a team they had beaten in the round games by just six points.
Ryder Lindner was impressive with an 18-point game.
The Under 12 Girls Red team also reached the grand final but finished runner-up to Naracoorte 25-11.
A close grand final was played out in the Under 14 Boys Division 1, with Millicent claiming the title 42-39 over Mount Gambier.
Millicent was out to a 12-point lead early until Mount Gambier closed it down to a solitary point in the final term, but the home side held on for a stirring victory.
The Under 14 Boys Division 3 showed plenty of skill all weekend, with Millicent easily winning all its games leading up to the grand final.
In the big game they accounted for Naracoorte to the tune of 20 point with a 45-25 scoreline.
Millicent claimed the Under 14 Girls Division 1 title with a comfortable 33-16 win over traditional rival Mount Gambier after an impressive weekend.
Unfortunately the Under 16 Boys Division 1 side could not replicate that feat, going down to Mount Gambier 41-34.
However, in yet another nail-biter, the Under 16 Girls Division 1 side held off Mount Gambier for a close 32-30 victory.
Millicent was undefeated heading into the grand final and led all the way in the decider but by a small margin.
In the end the home side was rewarded with the title after an entertaining contest.
The entertainment value continued in the Under 18 Women’s final, with Millicent again defeating Mount Gambier and this time by just four points, 46-42.
The two sides had won and lost to each other throughout the tournament to set up an epic showdown.
Neither side could make a decisive break in the decider, with the lead changing several times.
In the end it was the experience and class of Georgia Winter, Lucy Denton and Lacey Haines who topped the score sheets and ensured the hosts claimed the win.
Meanwhile the Under 18 Men’s Division 2final saw Millicent A with a comfortable 57-35 grand final victory over Naracoorte.
