Basketball Mount Gambier presented the season Most Valuable Player counts for the senior grades during Preliminary Final week. Clerical Officer, Karen Cunningham prepared a most professional and entertaining account of the voting for each round of the respective grades.

Her creativity and efforts were especially appreciated by the Men’s B Grades and SECBL teams.   

The brilliantly skilful and athletic Simon Berkefeld continued his stellar achievements since stepping onto the senior stage during the 2005/06 summer season by winning his thirteenth senior Men’s Most Valuable Player Award in the SECBL competition last Wednesday night.

Berkefeld scored 30 points to win the Award by 4 from Matt Sutton, who suited up for Panthers-Wizards, on 26 points.

The win by Berkefeld is even more meritorious when one considers team mates, brother Matt and Jak Ryan, were in good form and scored vital votes. The same scenario applies to Matt Sutton, whose team mates such as Matt Parslow, state junior Brad Rathjen and Nick Morrison polled well.

Outstanding junior state player, Sam Stafford easily won the Bill Cook Memorial Award for the junior player scoring most votes in the senior count. Brad Rathjen was runner-up.

Panthers’ point guard Brianna Walters capably shouldered the responsibility of being her team’s main scorer throughout the season and as a result consistently recorded MVP votes. Under 18 state junior, Rachael Hines continued to lead her team, Roos, in the SECBL competition, despite being young in years. She finished runner-up to Walters and hence won the prestigious Sally-Jane Allen/Trisha Flett Memorial Award.

MVP Award winners in the other senior competitions for the 2013/14 summer season are:

A Reserve, Women joint winners Tenille Gray (Bulldogs) and Liz Jarnevic (Rooettes), Men Jimmy Fleming (Beagle Boys).

Women’s Social, Sarah Kasparian (Crazy Crew).

Men’s B Grade, Blue Division Peter Simkin (Hawks), Gold Division Jason Bates (Bulls)