AFTER an exciting campaign, Victoria Metro has claimed the Under 18 Boys National Championship, defeating their rivals in Victoria Country to the tune of 39 points in the deciding match on Sunday.

Both teams had performed reasonably well over the course of the tournament, but it was Metro that stood up when it mattered most, snatching the ultimate prize with a commanding triumph to cap off a successful trip to Brisbane.

In a blistering start to the match, Country scored in the first 10 seconds after getting the ball off the opening tip and storming downhill for an opening score of the match with a lay-up. However, it was the last time they had control of the match, as Metro completely dominated the remainder of the first term, putting on an offensive masterclass.

Metro began to fire from behind the arc, breaking away on the scoreboard thanks to some outstanding shooting. They were moving the ball extremely well around the court, and getting nearly every player involved from downtown.

That kind of depth on the offensive end helped Metro to a 26-10 lead at the first change, with all the momentum on one side. Country delivered a much more competitive performance in the second term, and managed to get more cohesion on the offensive end.

As the game rolled on, the pressure built more and more on Country, and it resulted in the margin spiralling out of control. Metro’s dominance continued for the rest of the match, cruising to a 90-51 win and the championship as a result.

James Fennell capped off a strong campaign with another outstanding offensive performance. He was again at his best and a commanding presence in the context of the match. He finished with another game-high total of 22 points.

Harrison Beauchamp was not far behind with 20 points of his own, while Jack Whitbourn came dangerously close to a double-double with a final statline of nine points and 14 rebounds, fighting tooth and nail for every loose board, despite being outnumbered at times. He forced a lot of second-chance points with relentless effort under the hoop.

Coming off a dominant semi-final, Nick Renfree fought valiantly in defeat for Country, clawing his way to 12 points in an attempt to try and generate some offence for his side. Despite losing the deciding match, Country still managed to produce a strong campaign across the eight days of the tournament, and can hold their heads high.