Sport
20 February, 2023
Best of the best in junior basketball descend on Maryborough for tournament
Maryborough’s annual Junior Basketball Tournament was another great success story for the town, with big crowds descending on the five courts to watch the best of the best in junior country basketball. Fifty-one teams participated in the event...
Maryborough’s annual Junior Basketball Tournament was another great success story for the town, with big crowds descending on the five courts to watch the best of the best in junior country basketball.
Fifty-one teams participated in the event across all grades from under 12s through to under 18s in both men’s and women’s divisions, with Maryborough Blazer teams in particular reaping the rewards of home support.
Five courts across four venues, the Maryborough Sports and Leisure Centre, Maryborough Education Centre, Tullaroop Leisure Centre and the Nolan Street Gymnasium saw big crowds attend throughout both days in what was a record-breaking tournament.
At the end of it all, the Blazers were able to showcase their basketball the best on their home courts, with strong participation in the business end of each competition.
The under 12 girls avenged an early loss in the tournament to Eltham to take the title when it mattered most thanks to an 18-15 victory, while there was also success for Maryborough Blazers Yellow in the under 16 boys competition, turning around a 15-point loss to Terang with a 43-34 win in the grand final, just hours apart.
The under 18 girls made it three premierships for Maryborough during the tournament thanks to a 29-19 victory over the Deni Giants.
Elsewhere, the Maryborough Blazers Yellow team made it into the grand final of the under 12 boys competition, but were narrowly defeated by Horsham, 28-25.
Likewise, the under 14 girls also successfully made the grand final, but were defeated 22-18 to Warracknabeal.
The under 18 boys also made it through to a grand final, but were defeated by Terang, 56-46.
Both under 14 boys teams were able to make semi finals in both pools of the competition, while the under 16 girls finished third, narrowly missing out on the chance to participate in the grand final.
Overall, 10 of the 11 teams that represented Maryborough finished at least third, while the three premierships and six grand final appearances were an improvement on last year, when two teams and two runners-up were the highlights of the tournament.
