Watch the Victorian U18 Basketball Country Championships replays here
Day 1 of the Victoria’s Under-18 Basketball Country Championships is done and dusted but don’t miss any of the action, watch the replays of every livestreamed game here.
Bendigo
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Day 1 of the Victorian Under-18 Country Championships is in the books.
For the first time, heraldsun.com.au livestreamed select games from the tournament and you can watch all the finals action on Sunday no matter where you are.
WATCH SUNDAY’S LIVE VICTORIAN UNDER-18 BASKETBALL COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS ACTION HERE
RE-LIVE THE ACTION WITH REPLAYS OF EACH GAME BELOW
Every game on Bendigo Stadium’s main court – Court 6 – was streamed live and you can now watch the replays below.
And the action doesn’t stop there, we’ll be back tomorrow to broadcast champions being crowned.
LIVESTREAM FIXTURE – SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 21
DIVISION 2 ROUND OF 16
8am: Mildura Heat v Wonthaggi Warriors (Boys)
QUARTER FINALS
9.15am: Shepparton Gators v Macedon Ranges (Div 1 Girls)
10.30am: Wallan Panthers v Winner Round of 16 match (Div 2 Boys)
SEMI-FINALS
11.45am: Winner QF 2 v Winner QF 4 (Girls Division 1)
1pm: Winner QF 5 v Winner QF 8 (Boys Division 2)
GRAND FINALS
2.15pm: Winner SF 1 v Winner SF 2 (Boys Division 1)
3.30pm: Winner SF 3 v Winner SF 4 (Girls Division 2)
COMPLETED GAMES
Traralgon T-Birds Boys defeat Mildura Heat Boys
Traralgon has opened its Under-18 Country Championships campaign with an impressive 17-point win over Mildura.
After an even opening quarter the T-Birds blew the game open with a 16-6 second term.
The Heat’s pressure game forced several turnovers but the team from Victoria’s far north-west weren’t able to capitalise on the scoreboard.
The third quarter was again one-way traffic as Mildura got into foul trouble and Traralgon went on a 10 to four run to hold a comfortable 17-point margin at the final change.
The T-Birds ability to find consistent scoring opportunities in the paint and from mid-range was critical while the Heat struggled to score outside of impressive centre Dru Pilmore (12 points).
Mildura finished strongly squaring the fourth quarter, 12 points a piece, as Traralgon who claimed the win 53 to 36.
Kody Tibballs scored a game-high 21 points for Traralgon, while teammate Tom Hamilton added 13 for the victors.
Wodonga Wolves Girls defeat Southern Peninsula Sharks Girls
Wodonga claimed a thrilling two-point victory over Southern Peninsula in the opening game of the Under-18 Country Championships in Bendigo.
The Wolves withstood a determined second half rally from the Sharks to prevail, a clutch bucket and offensive rebound from Katelyn Russell in the final minute securing the win.
In a free-flowing opening half Wodonga had opened up a six-point lead by half-time.
However, a 10-4 run to start the third term saw Southern Peninsula level the scores mid way through the term, the team’s three-point shooting a feature of the game.
In a frantic finish, Southern Peninsula were within two points but a crucial turnover in their defensive half allowed Russell to ice the game.
The imposing centre scored a game-high 15 points in the win while teammate Ruby Watson overcame an injury scare to finish with 12 points.
Charlotte Lewis and Rebecca Rylance both scored 12 points for the Sharks.
Warrnambool Seahawks Boys defeat Sale Sonics Boys
Warrnambool has kicked off its Under-18 Country Championships campaign with a dominant 54-point win over Sale.
In the battle of the Seattle sporting nicknames, the Seahawks were simply a class above the Sonics, winning 82 to 28.
It was Sale’s second game of the tournament while Warrnambool had the bye in the opening round and it showed early as the team in green began with a 11-0 run.
The Seahawks held a 12-point lead at quarter-time and extended the margin to 26 at the main break.
The Sonics had few answers with Warrnambool dominant in the paint, often outnumbering their opponents at both ends of the court, winning offensive and defensive rebounds at will.
There was a scary incident in the second term when Sale’s Benjamin Dallimore tumbled over an opponent and fell heavily and his match – and potentially tournament – ended early when he was assisted from the court with what appeared a broken nose after a fourth-quarter contest.
Based on its first outing Warrnambool are among the title contenders.
Harry McGorm scored a game-high 14 points for the Seahawks while George Stevens showed his class with 12 points and Malakye Cunningham added 13.
Aden Best and Dallimore, five points each, were Sale’s best.
Traralgon T-Birds Girls defeat Bendigo Braves Girls
A half-time bake from coach Grant Little has inspired Traralgon to a 12-point win over reigning champions Bendigo.
The T-Birds were down 21-14 when Little implored his team to lift for the family that had travelled several hours to watch.
By the final siren, a 18-point swing saw Traralgon claimed a 37 to 25 victory.
An 8-0 run brought Traralgon within a point mid way through the third quarter before back-to-back three points took the lead and extended it to four points.
Bendigo’s inability to finish even simple lay-ups haunted them in the second half as the Braves added just four points to their half-time score.
The game was played at a break-neck speed as both teams looked to push the pace.
T-Birds tall Jordan Rogers was dominant down low and top-scored with 12 points, helping her team dominate the rebound battle.
Caitlin Richardson was the best for Bendigo with 10 points.
Both teams are now 1-1 after two matches.
Seymour Blasters Boys defeat Bellarine Storm Boys
Seymour remains undefeated after surviving a tight tussle with Bellarine by five points at the Under-18 Country Championships.
A pair of three-pointers and a huge defensive charge call from Blasters guard Brody Glenn proved critical in a nail-biting fourth quarter.
Trailing by six points at the final change, the Storm threatened to stage a thrilling comeback until Glenn‘s heroics secured a 57-52 win.
Seymour started like a house on fire, taking a 13-4 lead at quarter-time.
In a game of constant momentum swings, Bellarine roared back into the match with a 11-2 run but it only inspired the Blasters, who piled on seven points to none in the final minute of the half.
On the back of a big third quarter from Blasters guard Harry Stones, Seymour broke out to a 10-point lead but scores were again level mid way through the final term.
Glenn finished the match with a game-high 18 points, while Stones collected 11.
Tito Arnott (14 points) and Ezekiel Rickard (11 points) were Bellarine‘s best. The Storm now 0-3 after three matches.
Ballarat Rush Girls defeat Maffra Eagles Girls
Under-18 Country Championships favourites Ballarat flexed their muscles with a 29-point victory over Maffra.
However, it was a very different story in the first quarter as the No.17 seed Eagles showed the No.1 seed Rush a clean pair of heels.
Maffra’s long-passing, counter-attack gameplan surprised Ballarat and saw the underdog take a 11-7 lead into the quarter-time.
The Rush ramped up their pressure in the second quarter, forcing the Eagles into a series of costly turnovers.
Ballarat piled on 27 points in the quarter, to Maffra’s six, to take a commanding 17-point lead into the main break – a 21-point turnaround.
Maffra adjusted to Ballarat’s pressure game in the third quarter keeping the margin at 17 points
The teams traded blows in an even second half but the Rush‘s second-quarter blitz proved match defining as it finished 57 to 28.
Ballarat guard Jemma Amoore impressed with 20 points and a number of steals while Georgia Cox added 14 as the Rush remained undefeated.
Jasmyn Hennig was the best for Maffra with nine points. The Eagles are now 1-2 after three matches.
Wangaratta Warriors Boys defeat Bendigo Braves Boys
Wangaratta has knocked off reigning Under-18 Country Championships title-holder Bendigo by nine points.
In an enthralling contest just three points separated the two team at half-time but a strong second half saw the Warriors get home 47-38.
A 9-2 run to start the third term set up a 10-point margin, which proved too much for the Braves to pull back.
It was Bendigo’s first loss of the pool games, leaving it 3-1, while Wangaratta are 2-1 with a match in hand.
Levi Young scored a game-high 15 points in the Warriors win while Liam O’Brien was Bendigo’s best with eight points.
Pakenham Warriors defeat Wallan Panthers
Pakenham has survived an epic comeback from Wallan to win through to the Under-18 Country Championships’ Division 1 finals.
Down by 10 points at three-quarter-time, the Panthers roared back into the game drawing within two points inside the final minute.
However, it was too little too late as the Warriors hung on by four points, 39 to 35.
Both teams were locked 2-1 entering the final game of the day in Bendigo with the Warriors’ win earning them a shot at the Division 1 title while Wallan will fight it out for the Division 2 crown on Sunday.
Several incidents in the final minutes left players and fans scratching their heads before a free throw from Hamish Koll with 1.3 seconds on the clock sealed the result.
Pakenham held a five-point lead at quarter-time and eight-point buffer at half-time.
The 10-point margin looked comfortable and the Warriors will be disappointed to have let Wallan back into the contest.
Wallan guard William O’Dwyer-Richards inspired the comeback with a brilliant final term.
TALENTS: THE VIC U18 COUNTRY CHAMPS PLAYERS TO WATCH
LIVESTREAM: HERALD SUN TO LIVESTREAM COUNTRY CHAMPS
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