The Lakers Under 16 Girls played an outstanding weekend of basketball at the Country Victorian Junior Championships in Bendigo last weekend to finish runner-up in Division 1, of this competition.

The Lakers Under 16 Girls, along with the Under 18 Men and Under 16 Boys, competed in these premier junior competitions.

The Lakers Girls faced tough assignments in the minor rounds of their four team pool. They played Sale in the opening game and won easily 45-19, then followed up with a strong 51-40 win against Wodonga. The Lakers rounded off their pool games with a 34-47 loss against a talented and well drilled Mildura side.

These results placed them second in their pool, which promoted them to Division 1 and a cross over quarter final against Bendigo, one of the power house Associations of Country Victoria. In a composed, consistent team effort and a barnstorming 13-3 final quarter, they won 35-20.

They then faced another top class Association in Ballarat in the semi-final. This was a much closer affair in which the Lakers gained control in the second half to win 33-26 and hence set up a rematch against Mildura in the Division 1 Final.

Mildura came out “all guns blazing” in the opening minutes and had a 10 point lead in the first 5 minutes. The Lakers managed to stem the tide to a degree in the second quarter but still trailed by 13, 30-17, at half time. The Lakers showed grit and tenacity in the second half to peg back Mildura’s lead. The game was up for grabs with just over a minute to go when the Lakers were just one point down. Mildura however managed to score to post a final result of 45-49. Brenna Mckay and Tenille Gray led the scoring with 16 points each.

Throughout the weekend the Lakers played consistently well with effective team structures and a fair degree of confidence in each other. Their efforts as they worked hard to get back into the final drew special mention from Coach Bryan Green, who was pleased with the overall team performance in the Championships.

The Lakers Under 18 men scored one win in their pool games, defeating Corio Bay 57-32, but going down to Bendigo 41-53 and Warragul 53-57. They however finished second after a three way tie with Corio and Warragul and played off in the Division 1 final series as well.

They lost to eventual Division 1 Champions Traralgon, 35-51 in the quarter final. Sam Stafford and Stephen Sochacki led the scoring throughout the weekend while bottom age players Brad Close and Todd Lockwood impressed.

The Lakers Under 16 Boys defeated Maffra 47-39 but lost to Geelong 31-53 and Wangaratta 23-51. This placed them in the Division 2 playoffs, where they met and defeated Traralgon 40-34 after a 16-3 start in the quarter final. They however lost the semi-final to Moe 37-42.

Several players had big scores over the weekend with Lachlan Hunter and Zach deWit being consistent contributors. This solid performance will play an important role in the team’s preparation for the SA Country Junior Championships next month.

Mildura claimed the Division 1 Championship in Under 16 Boys and girls while Traralgon won the Under 18 Men’s Division 1 title. 

Under 16 Girls

Lakers 45 (B McKay, M Wilson, S Smith)  def Sale 19
Lakers 51 (B McKay, T Gray)  def  Wodonga 40
Mildura 47  def  Lakers 34 (T Gray, B McKay, O Dukalskis)
Quarter Final Div 1
Lakers 35 (T Gray, B McKay)  def  Bendigo 20
Semi Final Div 1
Lakers 33 (B McKay, T Gray, M Wilson)  def  Ballarat 26
Grand Final Div 1
Mildura 49  def  Lakers 45 (B McKay, T Gray, O Dukalskis)

Under 16 Boys
Wangaratta 51 def  Lakers 23 (Z deWit, L Hunter, L Ousey)
Lakers 47 (L Hunter, Z deWit, B Jolley)  def  Maffra 39
Geelong 53 def  Lakers 31 (Z deWit, E White, L Hunter)
Quarter Final Div 2
Lakers 40 (E White, B Clark, L Hunter)  def  Tralagon 34
Semi Final Div 2
Moe 42  def  Lakers 37 (L Hunter, L Ousey, Z deWit)