Posted on 20 July, 2011
VIC Metro have had a clean sweep of the 2011 U16 Australian Junior Championship, with the boys’ team blitzing the ACT 80-46, while the girls’ clinching a strong win over VIC Country, 78-56.
The boys team were never troubled, dominating the opening term to take a 19-8 lead into quarter time with eight opening term scorers.
The ACT side lifted in the second term, but so did the VICs, putting together their best quarter offensively, finishing the term with 25 points to 13 to take a very handy 23 point lead into half time, with a second half comeback by the ACT looking unlikely.
VIC Metro carried on with the dominance in the second half, winning every quarter to seal the big 34 point win.
The undersized ACT side were dominated on the glass, losing the count 62-22. They managed to fire up enough shots to put together a winning score, but against the taller VIC Metro side, shooting a high clip was always going to be tough.
For VIC Metro, Ben Simmons top scored with 16 points, while Jayden Hawkes finished with 13 points. For the ACT, Mitchell Brown finished with 14 points, while Tad Dufelmeier added 12.
In the Girls’ final, the VIC Metro side again jumped out of the gates with a big opening term, leading at the first break 23-10. But unlike the boys’ final, the VIC country side hit back, winning the second 16-11 to shave the lead back to within eight at the half, setting up for a big second half.
Despite VIC Country carrying the momentum into the change rooms, it was the VIC Metro side who turned the tables again, pushing their lead back out to 15.
This time, they wouldn’t let the VIC Country team back in the contest, running away with the big 22 point win and another National title.
VIC Metro seemed to have more of the offensive ball, and they shot better also, connecting on 40 per cent of attempts, to just 30 per cent for VIC Country.
For VIC Metro, Alanna Smith finished with 19 points, while Brodie Theodore finished with 12. For VIC Country, Molly Greetham had 14 points while Danni Pearce added 13 points.
The win gives the VIC Metro girls’ team their sixth consecutive national championship, while for the boys; they have reclaimed the title from NSW Metro, who had to be content with third place this year, still an impressive performance.
The Hon. Hugh Delahunty, Minister for Sport presented the teams with their medals, a moment they’re unlikely to forget in a hurry. The annual Fair Play Award was given to Northern Territory, a peer-voted award for demonstrated sportsmanship throughout the week.
Final results:
Results for Boys:
Gold Medal: Victoria Metro 80 def ACT 46
Bronze Medal: NSW Metro 60 def Tasmania 38
5th/6th position: SA Metro 68 def Victoria country 45
7th/8th position: Qld. South 70 def NSW Country 66
9th/10th position: Qld. North 62 def NZ 51
11th/12th position: WA Metro 70 def SA Country 57
13th/14th: position: WA Country 73 def NT 64
Results for Girls:
Gold Medal: Victoria Metro 78 def Victoria Country 56
Bronze Medal: NSW Metro 51 def NZ 39
5th/6th position: Qld. South 67 def NSW Country 45
7th/8th position: Qld. North 81 def. Tasmania 61
9th/10th position: SA Metro 65 def SA Country 50
11th/12th position: WA Country 59 def WA Metro 42
13th/14th position: NT 54 def ACT 50
