Grand final rematch, superstar showdown headline Basketball Qld u18 State Championships Day 5
Grand final rematch, superstar showdown headlines the fifth day of the Basketball Queensland Under-18 State Championships. WATCH THE FINAL DAY REPLAYS HERE.
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A grand final rematch, a possible title clean sweep, home court advantage and a showdown of the next generation of Australian superstars – the fifth and final day of the Basketball Queensland Under-18 State Championships had everything.
After four days of tournament play, there were just four teams left with the chance to go home with a gold medal.
WATCH THE REPLAYS AND READ THE MATCH REPORTS
Boys Division 1 Grand Final: Townsville Heat v Gold Coast Waves
A once in a lifetime kid.
That is what former NBL big man and Townsville Heat under-18 state championship winning coach Shane Froling labelled Rory Hawke after he led the North Queensland side to an undefeated title on the Gold Coast.
Hawke, who was this week announced as one of the newest athletes to join the Basketball Australia Centre of Excellence, averaged 29 points per game as the Heat rolled through the tournament without a loss and completed the week with a 100-77 demolition of the Gold Coast Waves in the grand final.
The athletic guard/forward recorded 24 points and grabbed eight rebounds in the 23-point win but was supported by teammates Kaleb Mitchehill (26 points) and big duo Luca Yates (15 points and 19 rebounds) and Marshall Wilson (18 points and 15 rebounds) in the victory.
The moment of the game might not have even been a basketball play as the ball went out of bounds late in the final quarter and the referees called Townsville ball.
But in a show of great sportsmanship, Hawke told the referees he hit the ball out of bounds and the call was changed.
That spirit is what makes this player and team special, according to Froling.
“Rory Hawke is a once in a lifetime kid and a moment like that is what separates him from others,” Froling said.
“But on court, his athletic ability, ability to finish, read the path of ball, his ability to find people, get around people is amazing.
“The kid is a machine, he’s going down to the Centre of Excellence and will go on to have a long and great career, not only because of his talent but just because the type of kid he is.
“it’s a privilege to coach kids like that.
“And this whole group is like that. You know you have a special group, when they call each other over the holidays to work on things outside of our actual training times.
“Just the integrity of the group, the way they back each other is incredible.”
Froling also praised the efforts of Mitchehill and the dominance of Yates and Wilson on the boards as the pair grabbed 34 rebounds, including 18 offensive between them.
“Yates and Marshall were amazing, the two kids have grown immensely,” he said.
“Marshall is one of those glue guys in the team, he won’t give you a million points but he’ll dive on loose balls, he’ll pat his teammates on the back, he’s a bit of a joker and if you recorded effort as a stat, he’d kill it.
“Luca is a changed player compared to a few years ago and he has a very long future and career ahead of him and could play at the top level.”
The state title completes not only an undefeated tournament for the Heat but an undefeated season of 19 games, which Froling called an “awesome achievement”.
Joshua Wolff was impressive for the Waves with 28 points and nine rebounds.
Despite the loss, coach Steve Kerr said he was extremely proud of his team’s efforts to be able to reach the grand final.
“There’s a lot of talent and potential in this group and a lot of these boys are still bottom age so there’s a bright future for this team,” he said.
Girls Division 1 Grand Final: Gold Coast Waves v Mackay Meteorettes
There’s no doubt the Gold Coast Waves girls team, who today completed a clean sweep of state championships in their age group, has a depth of talent that every coach would dream of.
But for coach Cassie Dover, there’s one quality which makes this group special.
“Mateship,” Dover said.
And that quality was on display more than ever this under-18s season, where the Waves overcame the absences of two starters in Shorna Preston and Layla Cameron, to claim the Basketball Queensland State Championship following an 81-66 victory over the Mackay Meteorettes.
The team also did it in front of their home fans at the Gold Coast Sports and Leisure Centre and in true team style, they achieved the feat with multiple contributors.
Jess Petrie led the scoring with 24 points and grabbed eight rebounds, while Jade Peacock (17 points and nine rebounds), Lilly Rotunno (15 points) and Katelyn Donovan (12 points, nine rebounds and eight assists) also shined the brightest on the big stage.
“We didn’t execute our scout on Mackay well early on in the game and we just called an early timeout just to get the girls out of their heads a little, Dover said.
“But after that we managed to get better and better as the game went on and got the job done.
“Jess (Petrie) has been a bit touch and go at times and we had other players such as Skye Mason step up to cover, especially when Jess went oiut early with foul trouble, but she was absolutely huge in the second half.
“But as we usually do it was just a team effort, from everyone, the starters, the girls on the bench who also made big contributions today and throughout the season.”
This Waves team is special. The group has won every state title in this age group since under-12s, including a National Club Championship along the way.
But Dover said they needed to band together this year more than ever.
“We really just focused on our mateship because we obviously had two key players missing and some girls new to the group, including me, so we just wanted to stick together,” she said,
“And in big moments I think that shines through and it definitely did this week.”
Paris Santacaterina led the way for Mackay with 23 points, while Charli Kenny (15 points), Phoebe Holmes (12 points) and Rorie McKinnon (10 points) all reached double figures for the Meteorettes.
Boys Div 1 Bronze Medal Game: Brisbane Capitals def Redcity Roar 77-70
Four players scored in double figures as the Brisbane Capitals have taken home a bronze medal after beating the RedCity Roar 77-70 in the boys bronze medal game.
RedCity came out flat after their semi-final loss to the Gold Coast yesterday afternoon and the Capitals took full advantage with big man Geordan Papacostas and athletic wing Rafferty Morris leading from the front.
Brisbane would jump out to an early 10-point lead but as he had done the whole tournament, RedCity’s star guard Kobe McDowell-White put his team on his back and helped close the lead to just one possession in the second half.
However, Brisbane’s balanced attack proved too much for the Roar with the Capitals able to close it out and finish with a seven-point win and a bronze medal.
Morris top scored for the Capitals with 18 points while Papacostas and Tama Tuhi both had 16 and Wes Briggs also had 15 points.
McDowell-White finished with 25 points for the Roar, Liam Hude also had 11.
Girls Div 1 Bronze Medal Game: Logan Thunder def SWM Pirates 79-73
The Logan Thunder have saved their best performance until last to capture the bronze medal after a thrilling win over the South West Metro Pirates at the Gold Coast Sports and Leisure Centre.
Logan had been inconsistent all week but put it together on both ends of the floor, minimising the impact of one of the leading scorers at the tournament in Lil Dart to record the six-point victory.
The Thunder started the game in red hot form, jumping out to an early double digit lead but the Pirates’ defence and ability to get the basket led them back in the game and even to a lead.
That was before the Thunder came storming home in the fourth quarter with Mackensie Auton and Hannah Dalton leading the way for Logan to capture the club’s third straight under-18 girls state championship medal.
Auton had 15 points and 10 rebounds but it was her defensive job on Dart that stood out most while Dalton had 20 points and eight rebounds.
Casey Walsh and Destiny Mino both had 15 points for the Pirates.
Boys Div 1 5th/6th playoff: Southern Districts Spartans v Logan Thunder
Boys Div 1 Sunshine Coast Phoenix v South West Metro Pirates Purple
WHAT WE CAN EXPECT
A raucous crowd is set to play a role in the outcome of the grand finals with both the Gold Coast Waves boys and girls division one teams featuring on day five.
The Waves girls have the chance to complete a clean sweep of state titles in this age group after winning every tournament since under-12s, including a National Club Championship along the way.
Coached by 2019 QBL Coach of the Year, Cassie Dover, the team will face the Mackay Meteorettes after a convincing victory over the South West Metro Pirates in today’s semi-final.
The grand final will also be a chance for revenge for several members of the Gold Coast team after Mackay beat the Waves to capture the under-16 title last year.
“I think it’s important we don't focus on the end but instead the process and the end will work out how we want,” Dover said.
“Our bottom age girls want to get some revenge from their under-16 loss to Mackay. I know a lot is said about these girls having won them all but we are a very different team in many ways.
“The huge losses of Shorna Preston and Layla Cameron, the girls are new to me and my system and some girls, who haven’t been in this group before. So in that aspect we are different but we are still very capable.”
Despite facing a Mackay team with a lot of talent and stars such as Paris Santacaterina and Phoebe Holmes, Dover said they would be focused on themselves.
The Meteorettes are also undefeated this tournament, having claimed the big scalps of the Southern Districts Spartans in the pool stages as well as the Logan Thunder in the semi-final.
And coach Lukass Blicavs said it was a team effort which led to them making it to the championship game.
“We strive to be the true definition of ‘team’, not relying on one or two players, and look to have multiple players step up in any game and that was evident again in the semi with some really important minutes from top to bottom,” he said.
“To have strong leaders in Paris Santacaterina and Phoebe Holmes is key, they are the tone setters for us defensively and lead from the front but we wouldn’t be where we are without the continual buy in from all players.”
After taking home the under-16s and under-12s girls championships last year, Blicavs said it would mean a lot for the program to add another title.
”However we know the final will be a massive challenge and for our bottom age girls, a rematch of the under-16 grand final.
“We know Gold Coast come in as favourites and they have the results to back those thoughts up but being a scrappy undersized team, we thrive on the underdog status.
“The girls will have to negate some big names in Lilly Rotunno and Jessica Petrie who always find a way to step up in big games, but with our girls full of confidence and nothing to lose, the pressure is off and we expect to come out, enjoy ourselves and play our style which we know will go a long way towards success.”
TOP TALENTS TO WATCH AT U18 STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS
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U18 STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS: DAY 3 REPLAYS
U18 STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS: DAY 4 REPLAYS
While in the boys decider, the Gold Coast will have to take down another superstar when they take on the Townsville Heat with a gold medal on the line.
The Waves put in arguably the defensive performance of the tournament after they were able to limit the impact of RedCity Roar’s star guard Kobe McDowell-White to record a 81-70 win in the semi-final.
However, the Basketball Australia Centre of Excellence’s latest scholarship holder in Townsville’s Rory Hawke awaits them in the gran final.
Hawke has been in red hot form this week and put up 41 points to lead his side to victory and to a grand finals appearance.
But Gold Coast coach Steve Kerr said he was confident they could get the job done.
Kerr also said the team learned a lot from their 84-60 loss at the hands of the Heat in the pool stages.
“Townsville really gave us a wake up call on we can’t be complacent on how we play,” he said.
“We were really flat when we played them and as a team we can acknowledge that and can agree we can’t do that again.
“Townsville has players like Rory Hawke and Luca Yates, who can score in bunches so learning from the first encounter, we can’t let them do what they want which we let when we played them in the pool round.
“Our focus our is similar to how we played Redlands but emphasis on different match-ups and defence styles.”
Townsville have rolled through the tournament without a hiccup, winning every game so far but coach and former NBL big man Shane Froling said his team needed to be ready for a tougher challenge in the grand final.
“Gold Coast will be tough, especially in front of a home crowd, and I’m sure they’ll be better then when we played them the other day,” he said.
“But I thought we played well in the semi-final against Brisbane, we still have a lot we can work on and improve but the boys are in good form and ready for the challenge tomorrow.”
Froling also praised the performance of Hawke this week.
“He has really made a statement this week and proved why he was selected to go to the Basketball Australia Centre of Excellence,” he said.
“He just does everything and leads from the front and I’m sure he’ll do the same tomorrow.”
DAY FIVE STREAM SCHEDULE
8am: U18 Boys Division 1 (9th/10th Playoff): Sunshine Coast Phoenix v South West Metro Pirates Purple
9.30am: U18 Boys Division 1 (5th/6th Playoff): Southern Districts Spartans v Logan Thunder
11am: U18 Girls Division 1 Bronze Medal Game: Logan Thunder v SWM Pirates
12.30pm: U18 Boys Division 1 Bronze Medal Game: RedCity Roar v Brisbane Capitals
2.15pm: U18 Girls Division 1 Grand Final: Gold Coast Waves v Mackay Meteorettes
4pm: U18 Boys Division 1 Grand Final: Townsville Heat v Gold Coast Waves
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