Basketball livestream: Best girls players from U14 Australian Club Championships in Sydney (U14 Basketball Club Championships)

While full team efforts were the key to the girls success in Sydney, there was still a host of standout individual efforts that were hard to ignore. Here’s our starting five plus bench players.

After an epic week on the courts of Penrith Basketball Stadium, the dust has finally settled on the Basketball Australia Girls Club Championships.

Victorian outfit Nunawading capped off a stellar week on the courts with the gold medal on Friday after winning against Mackay in the final. In a win for the state, Queensland scooped the minor medals with the Meteorettes scoring silver while Southern District Spartans took home the bronze.

Throughout the week, there were plenty of standout individual and team performances.

Here are the 10 players we’ve picked in our team of the girls tournament.

CHECK OUT OUR BOYS TEAM OF THE TOURNAMENT HERE

STARTING FIVE

Cleo Barbakas, Nunawading Spectres

In a team that put so much focus on the depth of their roster, it was hard to alienate any of the Spectres squad above their teammates. But there was something undeniable about the way Barbakas went about her work all week. The towering front court player imposed her size on every game Nunawading played in, most importantly the grand final, but it was her athleticism running the boards that impressed most. Was dominant under the rim and at the tip.

Sandringham Sabres forward Madison Ryan was one of the tournament's best. Picture: Basketball Australia

Madison Ryan, Sandringham Sabres

The Sabres might have finished outside medal contention for the week, but they have found a big to rival the best up and comers in the country. Ryan was unstoppable all week, imposing her presence on the front court for the Victorian outfit. Not afraid to take an open look from deep, Ryan was incredible with the way she refused to give up on the play, constantly crashing the boards at both ends of the floor. She came up with several big blocks across the week as well.

Valerija Ljubicic, Nunawading Spectres

Nunawading Spectres' Valerija Ljubicic was one of the most comprehensive player across the tournament. Picture: Basketball Australia

A future star of the game, Ljubicic was impressive at both ends of the court as the Spectres charged to a gold medal finish. Not afraid to draw a tough foul on the shooting end, Ljubicic came into her element as the stage got bigger through the tournament. She showed an impressive awareness on the defensive end, pulling in key interceptions and blocks through the tournament.

Olivia Olechnowicz, Southern District Spartans

The Southern Districts guard was a defensive powerhouse all week in Sydney. Her work off the ball, with sharp anticipation and speed across the paint, allowed her to continually smother opposition attacks and take time away from their shooters. It didn’t stop her making an impact at the other end of the floor either, averaging 16 points a game to have her among the elite shooters of the tournament.

Isabel Smith, Mackay Meteorettes

The Meteorettes secret weapon leading into the national championships is certainly not a secret anymore. Smith was one of the hardest workers on both ends of the floor during the tournament, and showed a lethal ability on goal leading the tournament for points with 140. While she might not have had the same impact in the grand final against Nunawading, Smith was a key reason Mackay made it to the gold medal playoff.

BENCH

Annaleise Elliot, Norwood

The Flames guard certainly burned bright across the tournament. She was a shining light for the Adelaide side who wasn’t afraid to scrap with defensive units to get control for her team. Was impressive on goal, finishing among the tournament's top scorers, and was a crucial piece of the Flames attack.

Casey Cavaliers Jordyn Philips puts in work on the defensive end. Picture: Basketball Australia

Jordyn Philips, Casey Cavaliers

The Cavaliers guard was the sniper of the tournament, finishing the week with an incredible record from beyond the arc. Philips finished the week with 23 three-pointers, almost 10 more than the next best, and averaged a handy 12.25 points per game.

Clara Kolb, Townsville

Townsville's Clara Kolb with a customary one hand put back. Picture: Basketball Australia

The young forward has been on the Queensland radar for several years after dominating the floor for Townsville. She was again impressive throughout the back half of the club championships to lead Townsville to the Shield gold medal clash on Friday. Kolb finished the tournament with 96 points at an average of 12 per game.

Olivia Pontes, Melbourne

The pocket rocket of the Tigers outfit. Worked skilfully alongside fellow Melbourne standout Olivia Kirkwood, to lead the Tigers’ attack. Pontes used her blistering pace to counter brilliantly, and found the right option for the pass more often than not. Several slick moves to get the Tigers on the board in their bronze medal match.

Keira Robinson, Warwick Senators

Robinson was a standout for the Western Australia side which finished with the bronze medal in the Shield division. Robinson was one of the tournament’s highest point scorers, averaging more than 14 points a game.

Originally published as Basketball livestream: Best girls players from U14 Australian Club Championships in Sydney (U14 Basketball Club Championships)