By Tara Murray
The Central Victoria Basketball Academy’s under-12 teams made a successful debut with both teams winning titles at the Wangaratta Basketball Tournament.
While the academy’s under-14’s and under-16’s played at a tournament at Swan Hill, this was the first time the under-12s had taken to the court in a tournament.
The under-12 girls went through tournament undefeated in division 2.
The CVBA were tested in the grand final, with scores being 8-all at half time. The CVBA found another level in the second half, winning 33-10 against the Echuca Pirates.
Mekenzie Wood lead all scorers in the age group with 69 points at an average of 13.8 per game, while Zara Conway finish third.
With both getting into foul trouble in the grand final, CVBA’s Simon Liebelt said it was good to see players like Lucy Killick and Kitty McKenna step up in the grand final.
The under-12 boys also went through undefeated in division 3.
It was a much closer grand final, with the CVBA winning 26-22 against the Tumut Timberwolves.
The CVBA had five of the top 15 scorers of the age group, including Archer Cook, who played his first game of basketball in the tournament.
In the under-14 girls division 2, won their first title having finished runners-up in Swan Hill a couple of weeks ago.
The side went through the Wangaratta tournament undefeated.
They put in a commanding performance against the Deniliquin Giants in the grand final, winning 22-14.
Maisy Hater was the division’s top scorer with 44 points at an average of just over eight points a game. The CVBA had four of the top 15 scorers in the division.
The under-14 boys finished with a 2-2 record finishing third in their pool.
Both the under-16 boys and girls finished the weekend with one win apiece.
Liebelt said after just two tournaments they were getting some really good feedback from other clubs on the development of the playing group.
