Australian Basketball Schools Championships: All the news and analysis from day 5
Unofficial tournament MVP Cameron Pender will pursue an NBL career path, after leading his school to the men’s championship division gold medal. See all the action from the final day of competition.
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Men’s Championship Division gold medal game:
Lake Ginninderra College (ACT) – 94 def. Rowville Secondary College (VIC) – 83
Lake Ginninderra College star forward Cameron Pender has declared he will pursue the NBL as a career path after leading his school to the men’s championship division gold medal.
Pender, the unofficial tournament MVP, was enormous in Lake Ginninderra’s hard fought 94-83 win over Victoria’s Rowville Secondary College.
He dropped an impressive 40 points, 13 rebounds and five assists.
Pender, 17, says he plans to play for the Canberra Gunners in the NBL1 competition, which could pave the way for an NBL stint.
“Yeah, for sure, I’d like to pursue it,” Pender said post-game about the NBL.
“But the Gunners for sure.
“I’ll stay in Australia. I like the system here and I’ve got my eyes on that and I’ll keep going on that.”
Lake Ginninderra College is the first school since Queensland’s John Paul College in 2003 to claim gold medals in the men’s and women’s division finals at the Australian Schools Championships.
The ACT powerhouse is also only the fourth school dating back to 1983 to achieve the rare gold double at the same tournament.
Pender wasn’t aware of the statistic, but says the school’s success is warranted.
“It’s a crazy statistic, but we deserved it in the end,” he said.
“We played the hardest in the tournament. We started shaky, but we got better and that is what matters.”
Fellow Lake Ginninderra forward Lachlan Smith was also outstanding, finishing with 31 points and 11 rebounds.
Pender couldn’t be happier to win a gold medal alongside his long-time school mates.
“It’s special,” he said.
“I’ve been around these boys for eight years trying to get this opportunity and it feels amazing.”
Rowville captain and gun guard Joel Foxwell capped off a stellar tournament with 22 points.
ABSC ALL-STAR FIVES FOR MEN AND WOMEN
The 2022 Australian Schools Championships on the Gold Coast delivered world-class basketball and it’s here to stay.
Basketball Australia announced shortly after the event that the tournament will return to Queensland’s holiday strip for the next two years.
It’s a reward for a hugely successful tournament, which showcased some of Australia’s finest high school basketballers.
Lake Ginninderra College is the first school since Queensland’s John Paul College in 2003 to claim gold medals in the men’s and women’s division finals at the Australian Schools Championships.
The ACT powerhouse is also only the fourth school dating back to 1983 to achieve the rare gold double at the same tournament.
Lake Ginninderra also dominated the Defensive Players of the tournament, with forward Jessica Petrie winning the women’s and big man Bowyn Beatty claiming the men’s award.
News Corp has also voted for our All-Star five players for both the men’s and women’s championship division.
Championship Division All-Stars:
MEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP DIVISION:
Cameron Pender (Lake Ginninderra College)
Huge man-child who does everything well. Two 40-point games and led tourney in almost every statistical category.
Bowyn Beatty (Lake Ginninderra College)
Tallest of the tourney, the US college commit surprised with his passing ability. The big man also claimed the tournament’s defensive player.
Roman Siulepa (Brisbane State High School)
Just 16, his athleticism set the tournament alight. There’s plenty of ability with it, too. Now the NBL is watching this gifted wing/forward.
Joel Foxwell (Rowville Secondary College)
Gun guard who stood up in big moments to get his team through to the gold medal game.
Jaylen Pitman (The Southport School)
Scoring machine…who put Southport on his back with 35 points in a semi-final loss to Lake Ginninderra
WOMEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP DIVISION:
Isla Juffermans – (Lake Ginninderra College)
An absolute load for every opponent, plenty stood out, but Jufferman’s strength in finishing through contact was a feature
Jessica Petrie (Lake Ginninderra College)
There’s nothing this girl doesn’t do well. So elite. Will be better than her gun NBL dad Anthony one day if she keeps going.
Jade Peacock (Hillcrest Christian College)
Pero Cameron’s go-to girl, the star forward delivered every time she was called upon - and that was often.
Lily Carmody (Templestowe College)
Melbourne Boomers WNBL DP with elite court vision who is a bulldog defender who gets up in her opponents grill.
Mailey Cunningham (Lake Ginninderra College)
Lake Ginninderra’s reliable captain and forward who always stuffs the stat sheet.
Women’s Championship Division gold medal game:
Lake Ginninderra College (ACT) – 73
Hillcrest Christian College (QLD) - 72
It’s been an eventful year for gun Lake Ginninderra College centre Isla Juffermans, so of course it had to end on an eventful note.
Juffermans, an Australian representative, has enjoyed a successful yet busy 2022, winning multiple medals for her country playing across the globe.
On Friday, she added a third gold for the year to her already bulging trophy cabinet after leading Lake Ginninderra to a thrilling 73-72 win over Hillcrest College in the women’s championship division final.
The girl from Coffs Harbour produced a masterful performance, dropping a game-high 35 points while adding 29 rebounds and four assists in 38 minutes.
She also produced a clutch steal in the final seconds before rolling her ankle and failing to finish the game.
An emotional Juffermans was carried off the court by her teammates at full time, but she took the time to chat about her memorable year.
The 17-year-old won gold and tournament MVP at the Under 18s Oceania Championships in India, gold in Jordan at the Under 17s World Cup and a bronze medal for NSW Country at the Under 18s Nationals in Ballarat.
For all her success, Juffermans rates a gold medal for Lake Ginninderra at the Australian Schools Championships particularly close to her heart.
She dedicated the win to the team’s assistant coach, John Fox, who is retiring.
“This is really special for all of us, especially Foxy,” Juffermans said.
“He is retiring, and his last wish was for us to win gold, because we came runners up last time we competed here.
“She it is good to win it for him and it’s good to end the year with a gold again. I’ve had a couple of them this year.”
Juffermans has another year at the Centre of Excellence in Canberra while she also has another busy playing schedule ahead.
“I’ll be competing in Spain at the Under 19s World Cup for Australia,” she said.
“Then after that I want to play a season in the WNBL and then go to college.”
High aspirations indeed, but goals well within Juffermans reach.
Lake Ginninderra College stars Jessica Petrie and Mailey Cunningham added 13 points each while Layla-J Cameron led the way for Hillcrest Christian College with 26 points and 11 rebounds.
CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE BOUND BUT FOCUS IS ON TEAMMATES
His own pathway may be set but all Luke Fennell cared about was sending his schoolmates out as winners.
Fennell finished with a game-high 29 points in the U17 Division 1 final to help his Berwick College to a 73-70 win over Rowville Secondary College in a thriller that went down to the wire.
The outstanding combo guard and small forward will head to the Centre of Excellence (CoE) in the ACT next year and likely suit up for powerhouse school Lake Ginninderra at the ABSC.
But the incredible bonds formed at Berwick College were on display straight after the game, with Fennell in tears as it sank in he had played the last game with his great mates.
“That’s my last game with these boys, it’s fabulous,” Fennell said.
“I’ve been with most of them four or five years - went to primary school with some of them and it’s just great.
“I’m Year 10 but I’m leaving, I’m (going to the Centre of Excellence) and I’ll miss these guys, they’re my best friends.
“Berwick have given me the opportunity to do everything - they let me come in, in the mornings and do gym, after school gym, they’ve given me everything and I wouldn’t be here without them for sure.”
Fennell, who has graduated through the Victorian National Performance Program run by Darren Best, said his own score was inconsequential, all he wanted was to send his Melbourne school out on a high.
It was a difficult task against a Rowville College side that was in the match right until the final buzzer.
“I didn’t care about my points, I said to the guys, ‘I want to get this win for you, this is my last time with you’.
“So it was great to do it and get the win.”
Fennell said he was “not sold” on any future options at the moment, with college and the NBL both on his radar post the CoE.
“I just want to go up there, play basketball and see what comes to me,” he said.
BRISBANE ROOKIE ON NBL RADAR AS POTENTIAL NEXT STAR
Men’s Championship Division bronze medal game:
Brisbane State High School (QLD) – 111 def. The Southport School (QLD) - 81
Gifted Brisbane State High School sensation Roman Siulepa is on the NBL’s radar as a potential Next Star, which would see him follow in the footsteps of ex-Illawarra Hawk now NBA gun guard LaMelo Ball.
General Manager of Next Stars recruitment, Liam Santamaria, was watching on as Siulepa led Brisbane State High to a dominant 111-81 victory over The Southport School in the men’s championship division third-placed game.
The gifted 16-year-old wing recorded an impressive double-double in the come-from-behind win.
Siulepa finished with 19 points, including 71.4 per cent from two-point range.
He also added 13 rebounds, eight assists, two blocks and two steals in a potent 26-minute stint.
The NBL is keen to track Siulepa’s progress to see how he continues to develop.
It’s understood the Brisbane Bullets would also be keen to bring the rising talent into training to help his skills and career progression.
Siulepa was humbled post-game when told that the NBL were looking at him as a potential Next Stars signing.
“That’s exciting,” Siulepa told News Corp.
“It’s good to know that the career pathway I want has options like that.
“If I can find my pathway through them (the NBL) and it’s good to see that they already trust me by looking at my performance before I’ve even stepped in or done anything with them.
“It’s cool.”
Siulepa will now return home to the southern Brisbane suburb of Mt Gravatt for some much-needed rest and family time.
He then plans to work even harder on his game to take the next step in his career.
“I’ll try and develop my game a little bit more,” he said.
“I’ll watch back some of these games and see what I could have done and just try and better it.”
Siulepa’s Brisbane State High School didn’t have it all their way in Friday’s bronze medal game against The Southport School.
Southport led by 16 points in the second quarter before Brisbane State found its groove to pile on 34 points in the third quarter.
Siulepa couldn’t have been prouder of his side’s ability to fight back from a first-half deficit.
“It is good to see what we can do, especially coming off yesterday’s loss in the semi-finals (to Rowville),” he said.
“We were a bit down and it showed when we came into this game, but it was cool to see how we can flick the switch.
“It shows how great we are as a team when we want to play.”
Brisbane State High School captain Liam Hude was outstanding, finishing with 25 points while big man Mason Amos added 16 points.
Shooting guard Indy Cotton was The Southport’s best. Cotton had 22 points while fellow playmakers Jaylen Pitman and Ben Tweedy added 14 points each.
Siulepa wanted to win the gold medal, but he is happy to take home the bronze.
“It means a lot,” he said.
“Everyone wants to win a gold, but if I can snag a bronze, win it with the boys, and enjoy this last moment, then I’m happy and I’ll take it.
“Hopefully, we can come back with this foundation next year and try and win it.”
THE FAMOUS NAMES BEHIND NEXT GENERATION STARS
Manuela Puoch (Rowville, U17 Div 1) - Sister of Southside Flyers WNBL player Nyadiew Puoch
Zoe Shanahan (Rowville, U17 Div 1) - Daughter of three-time NBL champion Matt Shanahan
Layla-Jade Cameron (Hillcrest, Championship) - Daughter of FIBA hall-of-fame New Zealander Pero Cameron
Jessica Petrie (Lake Ginninderra, Championship) - Daughter of former NBL Most Improved Player Anthony Petrie
WATCH ALL THE LIVE ACTION FROM THE FINAL DAY OF THE AUSTRALIAN BASKETBALL SCHOOLS CHAMPIONSHIPS
Spencer Mitchell (Flinders, U15 Div 1) - Son of current South East Melbourne Phoenix coach Simon Mitchell and current Southside Flyers assistant and ex-Canberra Capitals WNBL star Kerryn Mitchell
Bowyn Beatty (Lake Ginninderra, Championship) - Son of five-time WNBL champion Tracey Peacock
Wyatt Stewart (Rowville) - Nephew of two-time NBL champion Anthony Stewart
Joel (Championship) and Austin (U17 Div 1) Foxwell (both Rowville) - Brothers of South East Melbourne Phoenix development player Owen Foxwell.
Sienna Lehmann (Immanuel College, Championship) - Niece of Opals dual-Olympic silver medallist Rachel Sporn
Jade Peacock (Hillcrest, Championship) - Daughter of former Gold Coast Roller Doug Peacock
Brooklyn Ili (The Kings School, U20 Div 1) - Cousin of current Melbourne United NBL player Shea Ili.
Oliver Watters (Lindisfarne Lion Hunters, U15 Div 2) - Son of former West Coast/Sydney/Fremantle player and St Kilda coach, Scott Watters.
Pero Cameron on daughter, Layla-Jade
Former international star Pero Cameron enjoyed a proud parent moment when he kicked back and watched his sons play college basketball against each other in Las Vegas last week.
Watching daughter Layla-J captain Hillcrest Christian College into the final four of the Australian Basketball Schools Championships has been less relaxing - mainly because Cameron is strutting the sideline as coach of the women’s championship team.
“To sit back and not be a part of it is amazing,” he said of a proud parent moment.
“To be a part of it is a little bit tougher (to concentrate on your own child).
“I’m just happy that we’re at this stage and have made the top four at nationals and hopefully we can get to the next level.”
Anthony Petrie on daughter, Jessica
While his own career provided plenty of joy, Anthony Petrie said there was nothing better than watching the joy his children gained from playing.
“I enjoy watching my kids do their thing, I think more than I did it myself - and I loved doing it myself,” Anthony said.
“It’s just a different feel because you just sit back and watch. Just seeing them enjoy something as much as I enjoyed it just makes you happy that sport’s giving them the same thing that it gave my wife and I.
“She’s just excited to get out and play.
“And her mum Sarah played for ‘Lake G’, she’s a Canberra girl, so it’s pretty cool to watch her play for her mum’s high school.”
Kerryn Mitchell on son, Spencer
While South East Melbourne Phoenix coach Simon Mitchell was on a flight to New Zealand to take on the top-of-the-table Breakers, his wife Kerryn and son Spencer were locked in combat on the court on the Gold Coast.
Southside Flyers WNBL assistant Kerryn is coaching Flinders College’s U15 girls Div 1 team, while Spencer is running the point for the school’s U15 Div 1 boys.
Spencer is clearly a chip off the old block.
“He’s his father’s son,” mum said after their teams did the double against Queensland’s Marsden State High School on Wednesday.
“He likes to say that he’s 100 per cent self taught.
“I started coaching him when he was 5, but he likes to say that we haven’t helped him at all and he has taught himself everything in the backyard.”
LEHMANN COLLECTS TWO MEDALS IN FIVE WEEKS
Women’s Championship Division bronze medal game:
Immanuel College (SA) 89 d Rowville Secondary College (VIC) – 80
By Matt Logue
Star Immanuel College forward Sienna Lehmann hasn’t been home for five weeks due to basketball commitments, but two medals makes it all worth the effort.
Lehmann added a bronze medal to the gold she won for Australia at the under-15s girls at the FIBA Oceania Championships in Guam last week.
The rising forward continued her recent success on Friday morning, dropping 19 points and adding six rebounds and nine assists in Immanuel’s hard fought 89-80 victory over Victoria’s Rowville Secondary College in the third-placed game.
Lehmann couldn’t wipe the smile off her face post-game, saying all the sacrifice to be away from home for so long now feels justified.
“Yeah, absolutely,” Lehmann said.
“It has been a full-on two weeks and I’m stuffed, but to come home with a gold for Australia and then to finish with a bronze is pretty amazing.”
Lehmann wasn’t the only player to excel for Immanuel College, with captain and fellow forward Bianca Stasinowsky starring with a game-high 30 points.
Stasinowsky says the bronze medal reflects the team’s hard work at training.
“It means a lot considering we’ve only been here (to these championships) twice and then with Covid in the past two years we could have come here, but to finish it off this year with a bronze is just amazing,” Stasinowsky said.
“If our principal was here right now, he would be so proud of us.”
Lehmann added: “Yeah, we put in lots of early Monday mornings at training at 7am, but it’s definitely worth it now.”
Rowville shooting guard Georgia Taylor was a standout in a beaten team, finishing with 22 points.
DE JONG PROUD OF BERWICK COMEBACK
By Emma Greenwood
She’s been described as the “spiritual leader” of the Berwick College team and Isabella de Jong has spoken of her pride at her team’s fighting comeback to claim third place in an U17 Division 1 extra-time in a thriller against Lilydale High School.
Berwick headed into the clash as favourites but fell behind in the third term before mounting a spirited fightback to force extra time and eventually prevail 47-42.
Berwick tall de Jong fouled out in the final term but said she was immensely proud of her teammates.
“We had a lapse in the third quarter which really hurt us and they got up and I didn’t think we were going to come back but we did it and we came together at the last minute and it really made a difference,” she said.
“They never give up, they just keep going and have a lot of guts.
“We’ve trained all year for this, so it’s really good.”
A charge called on Taleesha O’Kane in extra time when Lilydale was down by just three points all but ended her side’s hopes but she still finished as the game’s top scorer, while Kendra Rivet top scored for Berwick.
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