Big pool matches headline day two of Basketball Queensland under-18 State Championships

Blockbuster pool matches headlined day two of the Basketball Queensland Under-18 State Championships on the Gold Coast. WATCH THE DAY 2 REPLAYS.

The host teams are off to a perfect start at the Basketball Queensland Under-18 State Championships as both Gold Coast sides firm as two of the favourites to take out the title this week.

Playing at home at the Gold Coast Sports and Leisure Centre, the Gold Coast Waves Division 1 teams won all four games on day one.

The Waves boys team survived an early scare from the Sunshine Coast Phoenix to record an 82-70 victory in the morning and followed it up with a dominant 133-76 win over the Mackay Meteors to end a successful opening day.

WATCH THE DAY ONE REPLAYS HERE

Gold Coast guard Jalen Blanchard put in one of the best day one performances at the tournament, scoring 42 points in the win over Mackay.

GC Waves guard Tyler O'Neill. Picture: Cassidy Muir

However, a tougher task awaits the Waves on the second day when they face the Northside Wizards at 11am and fellow top four contenders, the Logan Thunder at 5pm.

Waves boys coach Steve Kerr said his team showed glimpses of brilliance in the first two games but they also had a lot to improve on.

“It’s always good to get day one jitters out of the way. For us we need to stick to our game plan that is in place for these championships, play our style and play Gold Coast Basketball,” he said.

“Day two games are especially highlighted for us, both Northside and Logan have good rosters that can play well together.

“With our match-up against Logan it will be nice and physical and also played at a good pace.

GC Waves player Liam Claverie in action on day one. Picture: Cassidy Muir

“Logan has some key players that we need to show some extra attention to but for us, we need to be disciplined in our defence and control the tempo by playing smart with the ball.”

Townsville also remain undefeated in Pool A after beating the Northside Wizards and fighting off a tough Logan Thunder side in the afternoon on day one with the latest Basketball Australia Centre of Excellence scholarship holder, Rory Hawke, leading from the front.

In Pool B, the Kobe McDowell-White led RedCity Roar went two from two after wins over Cairns and South West while the Southern Districts Spartans are also without a loss after beating Rockhampton and Cairns.

On the girls side, the Waves breezed through their first two games, dominating the Logan Thunder Gold 108-32 and the Gladstone Power 118-38.

The team, which has won every state title in this age group since under-12s as well as a National Club Championship along the way, keeps their undefeated season intact.

Coached by 2019 QBL Coach of the Year, Cassie Dover, the Waves will look to build on their day one victories when they take on the Sunshine Coast Phoenix at 8am and the Logan Thunder, who also sit undefeated after wins over Gladstone and Cairns, at 12.30pm.

Dover said she was happy with her team’s opening two performances.

Gold Coast Waves girls coach Cassie Dover. Picture: AAP Image/Richard Gosling

“We had to get a bit of the rust out of the way in game one but we settled in nicely,” she said.

“We are just aiming to stay focused on the end goal so ensuring we remain disciplined no matter what the scoreline is. I think we did this a lot better in game two.

“Day two games will be a bit more challenging I think but if we continue to work hard on our D and move the ball through hands on offence I think we will continue to get better each time we step out on the floor.

“Today’s games were probably our best games to date. I think it is due to all the girls sacrificing time over Christmas to be ready for the tournament, it certainly showed.”

On the other side of the draw, the Spartans beat the Gold Coast Breakers and Townsville Flames to be undefeated after the opening day while the Mackay Meteorettes are also without a loss after victories over South West and Brisbane.

REPLAY: QLD U18 STATE BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS GOLD COAST WAVES V LOGAN THUNDER

In the game of the tournament so far, the Gold Coast Waves have ended the Logan Thunder’s chances of featuring in the semi-finals after a late game basket from big man Elijah Kamu helped the home side seal a two-point victory and keep their undefeated start alive.

Heading into the game, the Thunder needed a win to keep their tournament alive after a loss to Townsville yesterday and they came out firing with Nazar Angallo lighting up the three-point line during the first half.

However, Gold Coast were also hot from beyond the arc and with Kamu doing damage in the paint, the Waves were able to stay with Logan despite their impressive shooting.

The Waves jumped ahead by five points with just one minute left before several steals and easy layups allowed Logan to claim a one-point lead.

But a finish at the basket from Kamu along with a free-throw from the big man helped Gold Coast reclaim the lead and seal the victory, which is their fourth straight at the tournament.

Angallo had 39 for the Thunder while Kamu had 19 for Gold Coast.

REPLAY: QLD U18 STATE BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS BRISBANE CAPITALS V SOUTHERN DISTRICTS SPARTANS

Hopes of contending for a state championship are still alive for the Brisbane Capitals, who all but ended the Southern Districts Spartans’ goal of featuring at the business end of the tournament, after an eight-point victory over their crosstown rivals.

Both teams desperately needed a win to stay in the hunt for a semi-finals appearance after the Capitals were upset by the RedCity Roar and Spartans beaten by South West Metro earlier in the day.

And for most of the game, it looked like the Spartans would be the team who responded, jumping out to a double-digit lead with the Capitals seemed headed for an early exit.

But Brisbane recorded an impressive fourth-quarter to stage a comeback, led by dominant big man Geordan Papacostas with 36 points to seal the all important win and needing just a win tomorrow to seal a top two spot.

Rafferty Morris also scored 23 points for the Capitals.

REPLAY: QLD U18 STATE BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS GOLD COAST BREAKERS V MACKAY METEORETTES

The Mackay Meteorettes have set up a blockbuster final pool game with the Southern Districts Spartans tomorrow after dismantling the Gold Coast Breakers to remain undefeated in their pool after two days of action.

Mackay were dominant from the start of the match with their pace proving too much for the home club’s second side.

Gold Coast were able to make several runs in the second half to keep the score respectable but in the end, Mackay proved too good to win their fourth consecutive game at the tournament.

Phoebe Holmes continued to show why she was one of the players to watch heading into the tournament with 22 points for Mackay and Paris Santacaterina supporting her with 14.

REPLAY: QLD U18 STATE BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS GOLD COAST WAVES V LOGAN THUNDER

In their biggest test so far, the Gold Coast Waves were made to work for the win against a gritty Logan Thunder side in their last game of the second day.

Gold Coast, who beat Sunshine Coast earlier in the day, had previously beaten the Thunder in the SQJBC season but both teams went into the match-up undefeated for the tournament.

The Waves showed their class early on, jumping out to a double-digit lead with their depth as well as tough defence and hot perimeter shooting proving too much for Logan.

However, the Thunder did not go away and made a comeback to start the fourth, closing within eight points at one stage before some clutch three-pointers from Jess Petrie and Lilly Rotunno helped close out the game for the Waves.

Both these teams have already sealed their spot in the semi-finals with the Waves taking top spot in the pool and the Thunder in second.

REPLAY: QLD U18 STATE BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS NORTHSIDE WIZARDS V GOLD COAST WAVES

A fierce fourth-quarter comeback was not enough for the Northside Wizards in their opening game of day two after falling short against the undefeated Gold Coast Waves.

The Waves looked like continuing their form from their second game on day one, pulling away from the Wizards in the first half.

Gold Coast’s ability to get out in transition and finish at the basket helped them extend their lead but Northside didn’t go away.

The Wizards went to a zone defence and were able to stifle the Waves offence in the fourth quarter and with key players stepping up to hit some big shots, Northside closed to within six points with just minutes left.

But Gold Coast made the right plays at the big moments to hold the Wizards at bay and finish with a nine-point win.

Jalen Blanchard top scored once again for the Waves with 16 while Amarco Doyle had 15.

For the Wizards, it was Jayden Harris-Wihongi who led the scoring with 22 points followed by Beau Miles with 16 points.

REPLAY: QLD U18 STATE BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS SUNSHINE COAST PHOENIX V GOLD COAST WAVES

Needing a win to keep their hopes of playing in the crossovers alive, the South West Metro Pirates responded with an important victory over the Gold Coast Breakers this morning.

Following a loss on the opening day to Mackay, the Pirates desperately needed the result to go their way and came out firing from the opening tip.

A balanced attack helped the Pirates break away from the Gold Coast and record a 23-point win with four players reaching double figures.

Lil Dart continued her impressive tournament so far with 17 points in limited minutes while Susan McHugh had 16, Lily Edwards 12 and Chloe Butcher scored 11.

Cara Iliuk was the top scorer for the Breakers with 14 and was supported by Lilly Car with 11.

REPLAY: U18 GIRLS DIV 1 – SOUTH WEST METRO PIRATES PURPLE V GOLD COAST BREAKERS

The Gold Coast Waves continued their dominance early on the second day of the Basketball Queensland Under-18 State Championships.

After two wins on the opening day, the Waves were too good for the Phoenix, running away from their opponents early in the game with their tough and physical defence and hot shooting from the perimeter.

The performance also meant the Gold Coast were able to rest some of their key players ahead of their clash with Logan.

Gold Coast had four players score in double figures with Jessica Petrie leading the way with 16 points followed by Jordan Billing with 14 as well as Lilly Rotunno and Jade Peacock with 12 points each.

Jazmin Blundell top scored for the Sunshine Coast with 16 points.

WATCH THE DAY ONE REPLAYS HERE

DAY TWO LIVESTREAM SCHEDULE

8am: U18 Girls Div 1 – Sunshine Coast Phoenix v Gold Coast Waves

9.30am: U18 Girls Div 1 – South West Metro Pirates Purple v Gold Coast Breakers

11am: U18 Boys Div 1 – Northside Wizards v Gold Coast Waves

12.30pm: U18 Girls Div 1 – Gold Coast Waves v Logan Thunder

2pm: U18 Girls Div 1 – Gold Coast Breakers v Mackay Meteorettes

3.30pm: U18 Boys Div 1 – Brisbane Capitals v Southern Districts Spartans

5pm: U18 Boys Div 1 – Gold Coast Waves v Logan Thunder