2018 UNDER-18 CHAMPS AND KEVIN COOMBS CUP RECAP- DAY 8

The 2018 Under-18 Australian Championships and Kevin Coombs Cup have come to a close with WA Metro claiming the Under-18 men’s gold medal for the first time since 2000, Vic Metro winning the Under-18 women’s for the fourth time in five years and Victoria claiming an inaugural Kevin Coombs Cup.

A 9-0 run to start their game set the tone for WA Metro as they punished Queensland South from the three-point line, where they shot 17-39 (43%) and with their defensive pressure as they tallied a 25-4 advantage off turnovers in the 102-81 victory.

The trio of recent Under-16 Asian Championships gold medalists led WA Metro with Luke Travers scoring a game-high 27 points, Luke Jackson recording 14 points and 15 rebounds and Wani Swaka Lo Buluk adding 16 points and six assists.

Connor Mincherton came up big as well, knocking down six three-pointers off the bench for 21 points to answer the best efforts of Moses Majok (21 points) and Kian Dennis (14 points).

Bouncing back from last year’s disappointment, Vic Metro returned to the top of the podium for the Under-18 women with a comprehensive 86-60 victory over SA Metro.

While only leading by seven points at half-time, Vic Metro were in control of the contest and the scoreboard soon reflected that as they pulled away in a 30-12 third quarter.

Gemma Potter’s 19 points paced three other team mates in double-figures and they received 32 points off the bench while Eliza Hollingsworth played an important role with five points, ten rebounds, two steals and a block.

Ruby Porter impressed for SA Metro, top-scoring with 20 points while Ambah Kowcun and Jasmine Rigoni combined for 20 points off the bench.

In the Kevin Coombs Cup gold medal playoff, Victoria were looking to atone for a pool stage loss to Western Australia who entered the final with an unbeaten run.

WA set the pace as well, pushing out to an eight-point lead early as Benjamin Moncrieff (22 points, 13 rebounds) and Thomas McHugh (22 points, nine boards) starred.

Vic were able to stick with them through the first half though and they then turned up their defence in a pivotal third term, moving in front on the back of a 17-8 quarter.

Brian Carminati (18 points, four steals) and Jontee Brown (18 points, 17 rebounds, two steals) led the charge but Jeremy Tyndall (14 points), Jaylen Brown (nine points, four assists) and James Weinert (seven points, five rebounds, three assists) all played significant roles.

Andrew Dewberry did his best to keep WA in it, finishing with 12 points and 16 assists and hitting a late three-pointer but Vic had done too much damage in the third quarter as they secured a 68-60 victory.

Victoria were able to add more medals to their tally as a state with Vic Metro claiming bronze for the Under-18 men, defeating Tasmania while Vic Country got the better of NSW Country in the Under-18 women bronze medal playoff.

Queensland proved too strong for NSW in the Kevin Coombs Cup bronze medal game, succeeding 64-53 to wrap up the medal winners with the final standings for all three competitions found below.

2018 Under-18 Australian Championships and Kevin Coombs Cup Final Standings: 

Place Kevin Coombs Cup Under-18 Men Under-18 Women
1 Victoria Western Australia Metro Victoria Metro
2 Western Australia Queensland South South Australia Metro
3 Queensland Victoria Metro Victoria Country Women
4 New South Wales Tasmania New South Wales Country
5 South Australia New South Wales Metro New South Wales Metro
6 Queensland North Western Australia Metro
7 Victoria Country Queensland North
8 Australian Capital Territory Queensland South
9 Western Australia Country South Australia Country
10 South Australia Metro Australia Capital Territory
11 South Australia Country Tasmania
12 New South Wales Country Western Australia Country
13 Northern Territory Northern Territory

For all the draws, results and LiveStats, click here.

All the results and final standings from Day 8 of the 2018 Australian U18 Championships and Kevin Coombs Cup being held in Geelong, Victoria.

Basketball Australia

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