2018 UNDER-16 CHAMPIONSHIPS RECAP- DAY 8

For all the results from Day 8 and the final standings, click here.

The Vic Metro teams both got the better of their intrastate counterparts with the girls setting the tone after their 65-57 victory over Vic Country.

Their defence was exemplary from the opening tip as they held Vic Country to just seven points in the first term to gain a nine-point lead while Charlise Dunn (16 points) was on fire from the field.

However, Vic Country responded by getting their three-point game going in the second quarter through Paige Price (19 points) and they began to eat into the deficit.

They slowly crawled their way back into the game, cutting the deficit to four midway through the fourth quarter with Piper Dunlop (four points, 11 rebounds, four blocks) shutting down Vic Metro in the paint.

Georgia Booth (seven points) was able to halt their momentum though with a three-pointer of her own and time then became Vic Country’s enemy.

After a couple of clutch baskets from Georgia Kitchell (11 points, 19 rebounds) and Tess Heal (15 points), those two also combined to score Vic Metro’s last 12 points and they were then able to clinch the win from the free-throw line.

“It feels pretty good, in fact it’s very satisfying,” said Vic Metro head coach Samantha Thornton post-game.

“Time and time again, they came back at us because they’re a great group and I want to commend Joe on the way that he’s prepared his girls but we kept some of their very good players quiet and followed the scout to the letter.

“We also executed pretty well in offence and had a wide range of scorers. It’s two years in a row now that Vic Metro has played Vic Country in a gold medal game and again, condolences to them because they had a hell of a tournament.”

In the final game of this year’s competition, the Vic Metro boys looked to repeat the girls’ success but they found themselves trailing Vic Country by five at half-time.

Christian D’Angelo was all over the glass while Hamish Carey added eight of his eventual ten points off the bench to give Vic Country a handy buffer.

As expected, Vic Metro responded though to take the third quarter 22-17 on the back of some red-hot three-point shooting from Dylan McCauley which set up a thrilling conclusion with the scores tied heading into the fourth term.

Vic Metro had the momentum though and Jeffrey Ofoedu (22 points, six rebounds) scored the first four points for the quarter before James Roche (14 points, 11 boards, five assists) connected from distance.

After that 7-0 run, Vic Country struggled to catch their opponents and despite the best efforts of Jordan Michel (14 points), they eventually fell 64-74 with every Vic Metro player hitting the scoreboard.

“It’s an amazing feeling, it’s a just reward for all the effort that the boys have put in over the last six months,” said Vic Metro head coach Dom Linossier post-game.

“Full credit to Vic Country, a wonderful program, really well coached by Joel and those guys.

“I think the best thing about Vic Metro is it takes ten guys to contribute and we had guys step up tonight that may not have necessarily stepped up earlier in the week. We have seven of our junior program clubs represented in the ten kids, that’s a true testament to what Vic Metro basketball is.”

In the other results during the day, Qld North easily dealt with NSW Metro to claim the girls bronze medal after beginning the game with a 27-2 run.

Shaneice Swain (29 points, eight rebounds) and Indiah Bowyer (16 points, seven boards, five assists, three steals) led the way for Qld North while they held their opponents to 19% shooting as a team.

NSW Metro took home bronze for the boys after defeating SA Country by 26 points with five players scoring in double-figures and Jack McWilliams collecting 12 points and 11 rebounds.

Tas also fought out a three-pointer thriller against Qld South to finish fifth in the boys competition in the closest game of the day after Tarkyn Whitehouse scored the last three points of the game.

For all the results from Day 8 and the final standings, click here and for all the draws, results and LiveStats click here.

Vic Metro have completed the double at the 2018 Under-16 Championships with the boys winning back-to-back titles while the girls earned their 16th Championship in the past 18 years.

Basketball Australia

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