THREE local teams enjoyed the ultimate success at Swan Hill Basketball Association’s annual junior tournament on the weekend.
Swan Hill’s under 14s, 16s and 18s boys’ teams all took out their respective grand finals at the 13th annual Chisholm Earthmoving Swan Hill Basketball Tournament on Sunday.
The under 14 boys, coached by Daniella Bonney, took on Mildura in the grand final, winning 32-16.
Thomson Dow was the top scorer with 12, and adjudged the most valuable player.
Zac O’Meara was second highest scorer with six.
Bonney said her side — Xavier Bonney, Liam Thornton, Tomson Dow, Zac O’mEara, Rory Sheldrick, Angus Monk, Cal Robertson-Hoare and Oscar Lewis — which went through the weekend undefeated, had benefited from the ability to play together as a team.
“That was the main thing that stood out for me. They all definitely played as a team,” she said.
“We had a couple of new ones, but you wouldn’t have known.”
After a couple of years as an assistant coach and team manager, Bonney stood up to the role of coaching at squad level for the first time at the weekend.
She was assisted by Chris Smith and team manager Bec Lewis.
Coached by Corey Vallance, the under 16 boys were far too strong for their Bendigo opponents in the final.
The top scorers were Ben Maher (12), Jai Wright (eight) and Paddy Dow (eight) with Maher being awarded the MVP.
The final score was a lop-sided 47-17.
For more on this story see Wednesday’s edition of The Guardian (October 30, 2013).
