MILLICENT Magic junior basketballers headed to Adelaide on the long weekend to contest the Junior Country Basketball Championships, with varied results.
The big result saw the Under 14 Boys Division 2 side claim the overall victory, while the Under 14 Girls Division 1 side finished runner-up.
The Under 14 boys Division 2 side did not drop a game through the minor rounds, with a solid 60-37 win over Port Pirie to open proceedings.
From there they claimed a 54-35 win over Barossa Settlers, a 53-37 victory over Strathalbyn Storm, before a 54-43 win over Murray Bridge to complete the minor rounds.
In the semi-final, the magic faced a strong Port Lincoln roster with a grand final berth on the line.
Despite a slow start and a six-point deficit at the main break, the boys pushed hard defensively in the final half to claim a tight 42-39 victory and advance to the big game.
Up against Whyalla Steelers in the grand final, the Magic boys again started tentatively.
However, the third term proved pivotal as the magic hit their straps and went on to record a 40-34 victory and claim the title.
Top scorer for grand final was Harrison DeGaris with 18 points, while Ari Robbins finished with eight points and Naite Thomson six.
The Under 14 Girls Division 1 side faced a tough draw and dropped just one minor-round game – to eventual champions Strathalbyn Storm.
The Magic girls defeated Yorke Valley in a dominant display to open proceedings, with a 38-9 result.
Riverland Raiders proved a tougher customer but the magic were up to the task, claiming a 34-22 victory.
The Storm proved too strong and the Magic dropped its only game of the weekend, with a 20-37 result, while up against Naracoorte, Millicent was again in dominant touch, with a 51-14 win.
The qualifying final pushed the Magic to the limit, as Port Augusta would simply not lie down.
Up against a tough defensive roster, the Magic girls found baskets hard to come by and found themselves in foul trouble but that turned around in the final stanza for a hard-fought 29-26 victory.
A semi-final followed in the two-pool competition, with another tight contest, this time against Great Southern Slammers.
Another defensive stoush unfolded but the Magic were up to the task and claimed a 27-20 victory to advance to the grand final.
The Storm awaited in the big dance and a tight contested unfolded.
At the first break scores were tied at just five points each, while Strathalbyn opened a handy margin the second term, to lead 20-7 at the main break.
In the third term the Magic came out firing and methodically reduced the deficit, trailing by just four points at the final break.
Scores were tied up in the final stanza, but the Storm managed a few quick baskets to create a winning lead, claiming the win and the title 28-35.
Emily Denton and Seballa Coghlan were the top point scorers for the grand final and the weekend.
