Locked in: Echuca’s Charlie Gotch shoots a free throw. Photos: Aidan Briggs
Photo by
Aidan Briggs
Another memorable weekend of the Moama Bowling Club Echuca Annual Basketball Tournament has been run and won, with young basketball players from across Victoria competing strongly.
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The three-day tournament saw a record 123 teams compete, including 20 from home organisation Echuca.
Hundreds of people milled around the courts in the spring weather, making for a carnival-like atmosphere.
Reaching: Echuca’s Mac Ryan attempts to shoot over his defender.
Photo by
Aidan Briggs
The AFL Grand Final was also played on a big screen for the die-hard footy fans on Saturday.
Still, the main action centred on the Echuca, Rochester and Kyabram courts.
Echuca Pirates had winners all across the board, including two under-14 teams who walked away with silverware.
Tiger time: Rochester’s Max Lea passes the ball.
Photo by
Aidan Briggs
It was the second consecutive weekend the Echuca Moama Basketball Association ran a big event after Basketball Victoria’s Junior Country Jamboree was run at Echuca.
EMBA president Lisa Baker said both ran smoothly.
“We had five teams in the grand final,” Baker said.
“We ran the tournament around the region, and it went smoothly. We had the big TV for the grand final, and we had a few outside watching that.
“The weather was perfect, and we always get such good feedback about how the tournament is run.
“Ten players per team plus coaches and parents, it brings a lot of people to the Echuca region.”
And on their home court, five Pirates team had their shot at tournament silverware.
Honing in: Echuca's Ben McRae defends his Wodonga opponent.
Photo by
Aidan Briggs
The under-14 girls claimed a decisive 25-14 win over Benalla in the grand final to come out on top in their grade, with six points each to Quinn Downward, Charlie Haw and Lucy Seabrook laying the platform for the young Pirates.
The Pirates qualified undefeated from Pool A and did so in remarkable fashion. After solid wins against Yarra-Mul Lakers (20-12) and Rochester (46-5), they finished all square at 19 points each, with Mansfield in the final game to progress.
Watching on: The crowd watches on at the Echuca basketball courts as the tournament progresses.
Photo by
Aidan Briggs
Echuca’s under-14 division three boys also walked away with a tournament win after defeating Wodonga Wolves by 11 points in the grand final.
The 36-25 result, led by Angus Clyne (15 points), helped Echuca go through the division undefeated, with teams failing to come within 20 points of the Pirates in a five-game stretch.
On the move: Rochester’s Walt James charges to the rim.
Photo by
Aidan Briggs
Echuca also had another three teams turn up in Sunday’s grand finals.
The Pirates under-14 boys fought gallantly against a slick Warrnambool in the division one decider but fell short by eight goals. Arli Walker led the charge with eight points.
Looking inside: Rochester’s Maddox Parker dribbles the ball.
Photo by
Aidan Briggs
In division two, the Pirates under-16s pushed Wodonga in the grand final but fell 32-38, Jackson Butterworth the top scorer with 14 points.
The under-18 girls also put on a good show but were defeated 38-25 by Wodonga in the grand final, with Rose Byrne (13 points) and Ruby Morley leading the way.
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