AROUND 1000 junior basketballers, coaches and officials congregated in the border cities of Albury and Wodonga for the 2023 Australian Country Junior Basketball Cup played from January 17 to 23.
In the 35th year of the cup, considered by many to be the best junior basketball event in Australia, the Limestone Coast was well represented.
There were many highlights during the week, including the awarding of Cup Life Membership to Bert Bargeus, SA Country Director in recognition of his long-term dedication and commitment to the competition.
Naracoorte umpire, Zoe Grigg was appointed to umpire the Under 16 Girls Gold Medal game, after consistently high standard performances in the regulation games.
Two SA Country teams played off in Gold Medal games: Under 14 Girls’ Sharks, comprising players from the northern regions of Country SA, defeated Tasmania, 42-33, in their grand final and the Under 16 Boys’ Magpies went down to Victoria Goldminers in a nail biter, 57-62, after strong wins in the earlier finals.
Lakers’ Will Wimshurst, leading scorer in the final, Harvey Croker and Henry Pedler, along with Millicent’s Oliver Braun were key players in the team’s cup successes.
The region’s Under 14 players included junior Laker, Josh Haggett, who had a consistent week, finishing second highest scorer for his team with a top score of 14 against NSW Kookaburras.
Lakers’ Jenna Baron and Lila Pearson led the Under 14 Sharks.
Baron displayed increasing skill levels as the competition unfolded, while Pearson was rated as the most improved for the week.
Under 16 Girls Claire Mitchell and Shayden Russell took on the challenges of the high level of competition and grew in confidence over the week.
Mitchell was a consistent scorer for Magpies, while Naracoorte’s MacKenzie Burke played strongly for Sharks, who were beaten in the semi-final by eventual runner-up, Victoria Goldminers, following up a thrilling two-point semi-final win against NSW Waratahs.
Magpies Under 18 Women, with Laker Trixie Crouch in the team, progressed to the semi-finals.
Although Magic players Edie Easterby and Poppy Venn in the Sharks’ team bowed out of the live competition in their quarter-final, Sharks defeated Gold Medallist, Victoria Goldminers, 51-37, during the week.
Limestone Coast players in the Under 18 Men’s teams, led by Magic’s Jack Haggett, Jackson Bowden and Jedd Tranter, along with Kings’ Oscar Marr-McQuire, performed well in games in which the opponents had the advantages of physical size and strength.
