The competition was fierce all weekend, with four of the eight junior age groups splitting their games.

Rockhampton Basketball Development Manager Matt Neason was extremely pleased with the results.  “This annual event marks the start of our representative calendar.  We’ve got an incredible group of coaches in place this year, and I’m confident that our teams will continue to build on the platform they created this week as we look ahead to next years State Classics competitions”. 

“Mackay are a very well established association, so the results are a clear indication that our teams are well placed to take on the best teams in the State”.

The U23 Women were lead by key Frenchville Sports Club Cyclones players Alex Brady and Chloe Morrow.  Unfortunately the clock ran out on the Rockhampton women, despite a late charge on the back of three consecutive 3 pointers from young guns Katelyn Hill and Brianna Bailey.  Mackay’s Jillian Haughton put her stamp on the game finishing with 22 points, which was matched by Rockhampton’s Brady who also finished with 22.

 In the Men’s U23 game, the damage was done in the second quarter where Mackay outscored Rockhampton 29-10.  It was a lead that Rockhampton were unable to pull back.  McDonalds Rockets members Rhys Taylor and Jared Blanchard fresh off their 2014 State Championship shouldered much of the responsibility for Rockhampton.  They were also responsible for a spectacular highlight late in the fourth quarter when Blanchard received a pass high above the ring to throw it down with authority.  Unfortunately the young Rockets had no answer for Mackay’s Ryan DiFilipo and Brendan Shepherd who finished with 21 and 15 respectively.  Blanchard was the best for Rockhampton leading all scorers with 24.

Results from the weekend:

U12 G

Game 1:  Mackay 51 def Rocky 32,  Game 2:  Mackay 50 def Rocky 40

U12 B

Game 1:  Mackay 51 def Rocky 48,  Game 2:  Rocky 51 def Mackay 47

U14 G

Game 1:  Rocky 32 def Mackay 20,  Game 2:  Rocky 39 def Mackay 36

U14 B

Game 1:  Mackay 65 def Rocky 50,  Game 2:  Mackay 63 def Rocky 23

U16 G 

Game 1: Mackay 74 def Rocky 58,  Game 2:  Rocky 73 def Mackay 70

U16 B

Game1:  Mackay 84 def Rocky 64,  Game 2:  Rocky 77 def Mackay 64

U18 G

Game 1:  Rocky 66 def Mackay 60,  Game 2:  Rocky 67 def Mackay 66 (OT)

U18 B

Game 1:  Rocky 77 def Mackay 72,  Game 2:  Mackay 75 def Rocky 70

U23 Women

Mackay 70 def Rocky 62

U23 Men

Mackay 93 def Rocky 64