The Australian Junior Country Basketball Cup came to a close on Saturday after another impressive display on the Border throughout the week.
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New Zealand Kea won a nail-biter in the under 14 boys gold medal match, 64-61, against a very determined South Australian Wombats outfit.
The lead was never more than three points to either side throughout the match and changed hands at least 30 times.
NSW Ospreys were far too strong for the Victorian Goldminers in the under 14 girls decider, claiming the match 67-44.
The Goldminers had the better of NSW in the pool phase, recording a 74-55 victory, before the Ospreys produced a stunning reversal when it mattered most.
Victoria got its revenge in the under 16s boys final, with a comfortable 94-78 victory against the South Australian Sharks.
NSW Kookaburras made it two from two for the state when it handed South Australia its third grand final loss of the day in the under 16s girls, 66-42.
The Kookaburras won a high-quality under 18s boys final over the Victorian Bushrangers, 86-69, while the all Victorian under 18s girls clash went to the Goldminers.
Tournament director of operations Paul Gooding said the event was success in any which way it was measured.
“I felt sorry for South Australia, they played in three grand finals and didn’t pick one up,” Gooding said.
“NSW got three, the Vics got two and New Zealand got one.
“I was a bit surprised in the number of blowout games in the grand finals.
“There were some massive turnarounds, which indicates improvement from day one to day six.
“The Albury-Wodonga sides in the overall scheme of things provided a reasonable amount of competitiveness.
“We had two teams less this year than last year overall, but I don’t think that impacted on anything.”
Gooding added the decision to allow the New Zealand team to perform the haka at the closing ceremony, after opening the tournament in the same fashion, attracted another positive response from the crowd.
The Border tournament was again well received across the six days and looks set to operate under the same format in future.
“We have discussed trying to reduce the length of the tournament by one day from next year onward, but the indications are that the teams want to continue to come for the normal duration,” Gooding said.
“New Zealand and Victoria have re-booked their accommodation for next year and Tasmania are speaking of doing the same.”
