Sport

Gallery | Pirates plunder gold at Shepparton tournament

By Josh Huntly

Dec 5, 2023

Winners are grinners: Echuca’s under-14 champions. Photo: EMBA

Twenty Echuca Moama Basketball Association teams made the journey out to the Greater Shepparton Basketball Association Tournament at the weekend, and one Pirates outfit managed a win for the ages to walk away with a title.

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Echuca’s under-14 boys won the division four championship in a remarkable one-point win over Bendigo Braves, reversing a five-point loss to the Braves that morning.

After being fouled, Clayton Wilson held his nerve on the game’s penultimate play, stepping up to the free throw line and sinking both shots to snatch the lead and the grand final, bringing a heart-stopping encounter to a close.

Luca Micalizzi scored six points, while the Pirates defence was crucial in the 24-23 win.

The result rounded out another strong tournament for Echuca. While no other sides joined the under-14s in grand finals, the organisation was again well represented at a junior basketball tournament.