Contenders rise on day two of National Champs
THE SECOND day of the 2024 Foot Locker Under 18 National Basketball Championships took place on Monday, with some big team performances coming across the Men’s and Women’s competitions.
The National Championships are currently taking place in Ballarat, with the best young male and female basketball players coming to represent their respective states for a shot at a gold medal in one of the biggest tournaments on the calendar for the sport.
In the Men’s competition, Victoria Metro continued its winning ways, and remains one of the best chances to win it all after an excellent two days. Metro got the job done against New South Wales on day one, and backed it up with a four-point victory over South Australia Metro earlier today. Six players scored in double-digits for the winners, who are well-placed to keep their run going.
In the other Men’s game for the day, Queensland North comfortably dealt with the Australian Capital Territory, bursting away to a 23-point win at South Pine’s Court 2. Brayden Huff led the way for Queensland North, posting a game-high 26 points, while Ajak Nyuon played a lone hand for the ACT with 24 points of his own.
Although Vic Metro was victorious in the Men’s competition, the Women’s side did not produce the same result, falling to New South Wales Country by six points. Jade Crook was the winning factor for NSW Country, producing a game-high 26 points on 11/14 shooting from the field, getting to her shot with ease and playing a massive role in the match.
South Australia Country did enough to claim a nine-point win over the Australian Capital Territory in the Women’s competition. It was a brave effort from the ACT on the back of some excellent work from Zara Russell (21 points, six rebounds), but SA was simply too strong for too long in a hard-fought contest.
The final match of the day saw South Australia Metro defeat Tasmania by nine points in another tough contest. There was inaccuracy from both sides, but SA Metro did enough to break out to a game-winning lead and end day two on a high.
PODCAST | Got Next Season 3 Episode 1
THE Got Next Podcast returns for a third season in alignment with the return of the NBL over the weekend. Australian basketball descended on Perth in the first ever HoopsFest, in what was a monumental weekend for the sport on our shores. Join host Michael Alvaro and Basketball Analyst Liam Badkin as they unpack HoopsFest, […]
Ibukunoluwa impresses at Club Championships
ALTHOUGH his Willetton Tigers may have fallen two points short of the ultimate prize at the 2024 Under-18 Club Championships, the performance of Timothy Ibukunoluwa was certainly a highlight. The Tigers were one of the best sides at the tournament, making it to the gold medal match where they faced off against the Central Districts […]
Burke praises bronze medal Sabres at Club Championships
SANDRINGHAM Sabres secured third-place at the 2024 Under-18 Club Championships after snagging a win in the bronze medal match on Sunday morning at HBF Arena in Joondalup. Sandringham looked well-placed for an appearance in the gold medal game, but fell to the Perry Lakes Hawks in the semi-final. However, the Sabres still managed a podium […]
Lions roar in gold medal match after Tigers fightback
ALTHOUGH it may not have been the most straightforward result, the Central District Lions have taken out the 2024 Under-18 Boys Club Championship, holding off a fast-finishing Willetton Tigers team in the gold medal match on Sunday morning. Coming into the match, the Lions were fresh off a comfortable preliminary final result, and looked in […]
Tenacious Tigers take home gold at Club Championships
THE Melbourne Tigers have taken home gold at the 2024 Under-18 Girls Club Championships, defeating the Perry Lakes Hawks by 12 points at HBF Arena on Sunday morning. The Tigers were the dominant team all tournament, remaining unbeaten during their time at the Club Championships, and proving deserving winners after another strong showing the big […]
Pool rounds end as ladders get locked in
THE third day of the 2024 Under-18 Club Championships saw the pool rounds wrap up in exciting fashion, with the finals set to get underway today. The best sides will advance to the first stage of the finals, keeping their championship hopes alive, while the remaining teams will be playing for classification. Day three of […]
Cougars deliver in crunch time on day two
THE second day of action at the 2024 Under-18 Club Championships in Joondalup on Wednesday saw some contests go right down to the wire as the best young talent in Australia continues to shine. One of the most exciting games of the day saw the Cockburn Cougars emerge one-point winners over the Warwick Senators early […]
Young guns shine on Day 1 of Club Championships
ONE of the biggest highlights of HoopsFest in Western Australia this weekend is the inclusion of the 2024 Under-18 Club Championships, which began on Tuesday at HBF Arena in Joondalup. The best U18 clubs will go head to head from Tuesday to Sunday, as a National Champion will be crowned on the final day of […]
West is best in tough Queensland matchup
WESTERN Australia has claimed a tough 16-point win over Queensland at the School Sports Australia Basketball Under-16 Boys Championships on Wednesday morning. With the tournament being held on the Gold Coast, Wednesday marked the final day before finals kicked off earlier today. Wednesday’s matchup was largely a one-sided affair, with Western Australia jumping out to […]
