2018 UNDER-16 CHAMPIONSHIPS RECAP- DAY 4
For a full review of the Day 4 games as well as the draws, ladders and top performers, click here.
With only a day remaining in the group stage, it is all-or-nothing for teams before the Quarter-Finals begin on Wednesday.
In Pool A for the boys, Vic Country have raced to a 5-0 record to sit on top of the ladder but NSW Metro and SA Metro are hot on their heels with only a game separating them from first place.
NSW Metro will take on Qld North, who will be fighting for their chance to reach the Quarter-Finals, while SA Metro meet Vic Country in a game that will most likely decide top spot.
Tas currently sit in fifth place in Pool A but have two games to come on the last day of the group stage which keeps their hopes alive of a top-four finish if they can get past NT and WA Country.
The boys from the Apple Isle will take confidence from a four-point win over Qld North yesterday as Sejr Deans (22 points) and Tarkyn Whitehouse (15 points) helped hold off a fast-finishing opposition.
“There’s a massive focus for us just on our behaviour and working hard every single possession no matter the score,” said Tas head coach Nic Martin.
“We learnt some lessons in our first three games where we probably didn’t behave consistently enough and I thought today the level of focus was there and I just felt like we worked so hard and that gave us an opportunity to win.
“We want everyone that gets the opportunity to play for Tasmania to take immense pride in playing for the state and the guys understand that. We had three guys today who didn’t step on the court but they’re no less proud to be a part of the group and they know that they played a massive role in that win.”
In Pool B, SA Country picked up an important win over WA Metro on Day 4 and will now be hoping that WA Metro can bounce back and upset the current ladder leaders, Vic Metro.
If that eventuates, SA Country will move to the top of the table heading into the Quarter-Finals but as it stands, Vic Metro are undefeated and have won their games by an average margin of 23 points.
Home side Qld South and NSW Country will be fighting for the fourth and final place and they will play off in that crucial clash at 7pm.
For the girls, Vic Metro need only one more win to advance to the Quarter-Finals unbeaten but SA Country must cause the upset to have any chance of finishing in the top four.
Qld South, after defeating NT on the back of 25 points from Katie Deeble, will take on NSW Metro with the winner of that game claiming second place.
WA Metro will be keeping a close eye on SA Country’s result but they have their fate in their own hands and can book a finals berth themselves if they can get past ACT in the first game of the morning.
Four teams from Pool B have already earned their spot in the next stage of the tournament but SA Metro will meet Vic Country in a battle for top billing while Tas and WA Country have their last chances to get a win in the group stage.
For all the draws, results and LiveStats click here.
In case you missed it, today is #AusChamps Origin Day on the Sunshine Coast with four massive clashes for ladder position and pride between Queensland and New South Wales played throughout the day.
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