Watch replay: State’s top hoop stars battle in SA Junior Country Championship finals
Mildura clinched a come-from-behind victory in the under-18 boys divion one grand final at the SA Junior Country Basketball Champs. Relive that game plus other action from the best title deciders in our exclusive live stream replays.
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There was drama before tip-off but Mildura Heat and Mount Gambier Lakers put on an epic battle during the under-18 division one boys grand final at the SA Junior Basketball Country Championships.
The match, which was shown on one of The Advertiser’s four simultaneous live streams of grand final action on Monday, was moved off the main court at Wayville.
Mount Gambier star Zach Nulty injured his knee in the warm up and could not get off the court, requiring an ambulance.
Click here to watch the replays of all 25 games.
Once the match began, Mount Gambier came out firing and took a 10-point lead into the first break.
Mildura fought back and then enjoyed a three-pint advantage at three-quarter time.
The clash was then forced into overtime with scores locked at 66-apiece at the end of regular time.
But the Heat found an edge and claimed the victory 76-72.
Ned Oldham topscored for the winners with 26 points, while Trequan Rudd-Morfaw added 19.
Benjamin Young (29 points) and Sam Lock (25) were solid for the Lakers.
Mildura coach Ryan Cetinich was proud of his side.
“It was such a hard-fought win,” Cetinich said.
“It means everything (to win).
“It was a big occasion and we got jumped early but we settled the boys down, settled their nerves a bit and we just had to stick with our game plan.
“Mount Gambier are a good side and we had a lot of respect for what they had done through the tournament.
SCROLL DOWN TO SEE SCORES FROM EVERY GRAND FINAL
“They were undefeated like us in their pool games and we were looking forward to the challenge.
“It ended up being an epic game.”
Rising regional hoops stars battled it out in round-robin matches on Saturday and Sunday, throughout under-14 and under-18 boys and girls divisions.
Advertiser subscribers had exclusive access to 25 matches from the third and final day of competition through our live streams.
Cetinich said the live streaming helped many of the players’ families who stayed in Victoria over the weekend catch the grand final.
The girls under-18 top tier title decider was also a nailbiter.
Eastern Hills Hornets triumphed over Riverland 50-47.
Taylor Moffat topscored for the Hornets with 13 points, while Layla Harris finished with 10.
Bianca Stasinowsky (six points) was prolific for Riverland.
Eastern Hills coach Hayden Sewell said the victory was a reward for all his players’ hard work.
“The girls are very happy,” Sewell said.
“For most of them it’s their second state champs win and we are so happy to get that reward.
“Half of our state team is in this team — five players are going to go off to nationals in a few weeks — and all of them play District basketball as well.
“They play basketball every Friday night together and most weekends they train together for state, so they are a really tight-knit group.
“It’s amazing and means the world to the girls.”
The live streaming of Monday’s grand finals followed our exclusive broadcast of the 2020 SA Junior Basketball Championships in October.
2021 SA JUNIOR COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIP GRAND FINAL RESULTS:
■ Under-14 boys
Division one
Mildura Heat 34 d Eastern Hills Hornets 33
Division two
Strathalbyn Storm 41 d Mildura Heat 23
Division three
Kangaroo Island Murray 65 d Bridge Bullets 48
Division four
Light 50 d Riverland 45
Division five
Naracoorte Kings v Strathalbyn Storm
■ Under-14 girls
Division one
Millicent Magic 31 d Mildura Heat 30
Division two
Port Lincoln 32 d Light 28
Division three
Naracoorte Kings 40 d Mount Gambier Lakers 23
Division four
Millicent Magic v Keith
Division five
Mount Gambier Lakers 23 d Eastern Hills Hornets 18
■ Under-18 boys
Division one
Mount Gambier Lakers v Mildura Heat
Division two
Whyalla Steelers 62 d Mildura Heat 47
Division three
Eastern Hills 51 d Southern Yorke Peninsula 35
Division four
Light v Kangaroo Island
■ Under-18 girls
Division one
Riverland v Eastern Hills Hornets
Division two
Whyalla Steelers 47 d Yorke Valley 39
Division three
Naracoorte Kings 50 d Strathalbyn Storm 16
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