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Saturday 31st January, 2026

WA’s Under 20 Men’s Team are through to the Gold Medal Match after beating South Australia by 10 points at the Footlocker Under 20 National Championships in Ballarat today.

JK Mach opened WA’s account but the South Australians were on target from outside the arc in the first quarter, seeing them out to an early lead.

WA’s Andreas Grubisa draining a 3-pointer on the buzzer to tie the game heading into the second term.

Marley Sam on fire in the second with the first five points of the quarter which had Western Australia go on an 8-0 run.

Harry Fitzgerald getting busy before a mini-fightback from the South Australians saw them take a 2-point advantage into the main break.

Fitzgerald continued on the attack as the intensity lifted in the third term, burying one from the logo before a beautiful step-back three to get WA out to a 9-point lead. The Cockburn teenager’s tally up to 16.

WA heading into the turn for home with a 6-point lead in front of a vocal West Australian crowd.

The South Australians firing up in the fourth, capitalising on WA mistakes to bring the score back level once more.

Mach making a monster block and converting down the other end to steal back the lead before a Sam spin move saw the South Aussies six points down and needing a timeout.

WA maintaining their last quarter domination to run out 10-point victors. The final score 93-83. Harry Fitzgerald top-scoring with 19-points.

The West Aussies will face New South Wales in the Gold Medal match tomorrow.

WA 93 (Fitzgerald 19, Sam 16, McRae 12, Burnett 12)

SA 83 (Mackenzie 17, Dickeson 13

Photo Credit: Taylor Earnshaw