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Under 18 AJC: Day Four Wrap
Our High Performance Manager Brett Coxsedge provides his day four wrap on our Under 18 State Teams at the Under 18 Australian Junior Championships in Canberra.
WA Country Women v Queensland South
WA Country faced an athletic QLD South team in what was always going to be a good contest.
The first quarter saw both teams find their way with QLD South edging their way to the front. Some aggressive play by Morgan Ballantyne and McKenzie Hoycard saw WA Country edge to the front to lead 21-18 at the end of the first quarter.
The second quarter was an even affair with WA Country maintaining their lead for the majority of the quarter. However QLD South was able to wrestle the lead back to be up 39-38 at the half time break.
The third quarter saw neither team give an inch with the score remaining close throughout. Some good inside scores from QLD South saw them go in to the final quarter leading 61-59.
The last quarter started with WA trying to hang on as QLD South made several runs. In the end, QLD South was able to convert more baskets to run out winners against a gallant WA Country team 96-79.
WA Metro Men v Tasmania
In what was a must-win game for WA Metro to be a chance of making the quarter finals, Tasmania prevailed with an 85-72 win.
Tasmania opened the game scoring the first two baskets. However WA Metro hit back immediately with some nice scores from Donlagic, Hampson and Coburn. At the end of the quarter WA were in a good position with a 23-19 lead.
The second quarter saw Tasmania assert their dominance scoring 31 points whilst WA Metro was kept to just 15 points. Turnovers proved costly for WA Metro as they found themselves behind 50-38 at the break.
The third quarter saw WA Metro unable to reduce the lead to single figures as Tasmania’s Kyle Clarke continued to prove a handful. The lead was extended to 17 points by the end of the quarter.
The final quarter saw Tasmania again extend their lead to 21 points. WA Metro tried hard to get back in the contest and won the quarter. However that was not enough with Tasmania running out winners.
WA Country Men v NSW Metro Men
The WA Country men faced a huge test today playing a very big NSW Metro team who were out to remain in the finals hunt. The size of Issac Humphries and Den Gak caused troubles from the start of the game, making it difficult for WA Country to score and get defensive stops. At the end of the quarter NSW Metro led 28-11.
The second quarter saw WA Country increase their defensive intensity which limited the NSW Metros scoring opportunities. Unfortunately it was on the offensive end that WA Country was unable to take advantage as they were limited to 10 points and found themselves down 47-21 at the half time break.
The second half was a competitive affair with WA Country battling away to stay in the contest. In a very respectable effort, WA Country made NSW Metro work hard for every score. Unfortunately, the damage had been done in the first half and NSW Metro ended up running out winners 85-48.
WA Metro Women v Queensland North
A positive start by WA Metro saw them jump to an early lead. Early foul trouble threatened to undo the good work on offense as QLD South were sent to the free throw line on numerous occasions however they failed to take advantage of it. Strong inside play and some good defensive rebounding saw WA Metro lead 17-6 at the end of the first quarter.
The second quarter saw WA Metro pick up their defensive effort keeping QLD North scoreless for the first six minutes of play, whilst dominating inside on the offensive end. At the half time break WA Metros lead had grown for them to be up 44-15.
The start of the second half saw WA Metro maintain their grip on the game, increasing their lead to 36 points. QLD North had no answer to WA Metros size and good guard play. A mini run by QLD North threatened to close the gap however WA Metro were still able to lead 65-32 at the last break.
WA Metro consolidated their play in the final term in what was their best effort of the tournament to run out convincing winners 96-50.
WA Country Men v New Zealand
A 10-nil by NZ to start the game was not the start WA Country was looking for in their second game of the day. WA Country finally got on the scoreboard after a Shaun Rost offensive rebound and put back. The lead got out to as many as 19 points before WA Country closed the gap a little to see them trail 32-17 at the end of the quarter.
The second quarter saw NZ go on a mini run scoring seven unanswered points which resulted in the lead getting out to 24 points. To their credit WA Country fought their way back with Mikey Collins being effective inside. At the half time break NZ led 56-35.
Two baskets by Shaun Rost and three-point shot from Dylan Myers was the perfect start for WA Country in the third quarter as the gap was closed to 15 points. NZ responded with some scores of their own and continued to control the game leading 73-53 going in to the last quarter.
The never say die WA Country boys put up a mighty fight in the last quarter, playing with great energy. Unfortunately bridging the gap proved too much at NZ went on to win 91-78.
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