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Sunday 1st February 2026

WA’s Under 20 Men’s Team have taken silver at the Footlocker Under 20 National Championships in Ballarat after going down in the Grand Final by 3-points to New South Wales.

WA came out firing from the outset, racing to a 14-point lead by quarter time, carrying on their good form from Saturday’s semi-final victory.

Harry Fitzgerald and Marley Sam once again hitting the scoreboard early.

A Sam assist early in the third lead to a JK Mach dunk and a game-high 18-point lead for the West Australians.

But New South Wales fought back to bring that deficit down to just three at the turn for home.

NSW’s Bailey Macarthur hitting a three pointer early in the final term to draw level. New South Wales hitting the front the very next play.

Two more Mach dunks kept WA in the game – the 229cm Ellenbrook teenager using his height to full effect and showing scouts why he’s such an exciting prospect.

New South Wales domination from outside the arc proving costly for WA, Jayden Tawake draining back-to-back-to-back three pointers.

WA three points down with 27 seconds remaining on the clock but couldn’t convert several attempts from three-point range.

New South Wales completing the comeback with a 74-71 win to take the gold medal.

WA 71 (Fitzgerald 20, Mach 14, Sam 11)
NSW 74 (Hanson 19, Macarthur 16, Tawake 11

Photo Credit: Taylor Earnshaw