Victoria has led the way at the Australian Junior Championships in Mackay this week with two gold medals, one silver medal and a bronze to cap off the Under-20 and Ivor Burge tournaments.
With three referees selected for medal games – Jessica Skrzyniarz (Under-20 Women Gold Medal), Jacob Bolzonello (Under-20 Men Gold Medal) and Kash Gaitley (Under-20 Women Bronze Medal), it made for a sensational week across the board for our Victorian representatives.
VICTORIA UNDER-20 WOMEN
Surging past adversity, the Victorian Under-20 Women were superb all week in Mackay to win the Australian Junior Championships.
Even the challenges of this campaign, compounded by player unavailability and difficulty with getting all the athletes together for training in the one state, weren’t enough to derail these junior stars as they shone across the tournament.
Avenging a difficult 2021 campaign, downed in the grand final by New South Wales, the Victorians excelled throughout the 2022 tournament to remain undefeated throughout the event.
Sharing the workload in the grand final, the hard work of Sophie Burrows (15 points, eight rebounds), Dallas Loughridge (14 points) and Erin Condron (nine points, eight rebounds) were the top of the stat-sheet amongst an even performance from the 10-deep roster.
Victoria Under-20 Women’s Head Coach Kerryn Mitchell said the difficult week made the group stronger on and off the court and
“It feels amazing to win the national championship, tinged with a little bit of relief,” Mitchell said. “we knew that Victoria needed a couple of golds coming back in so there was a little bit of pressure for us to do that and we did it.
“I actually really love this group – they’re an amazing bunch of people, amazing across the team, and we have grown as a group, both in terms of the basketball we played and off the court over the course of this week.
“To come through a lot of adversity and bring home the gold medal I was so proud – I’m proud to work with them and I was proud of what they were able to do this week.”
Centre of Excellence scholarship holder Nyadiew Puoch was named tournament MVP following her superb week – averaging 16 points and seven rebounds a game across the tournament including a best of 25 points, 12 rebounds against South Australia Red.
VICTORIA IVOR BURGE WOMEN
After a one-year hiatus, the Victorian Ivor Burge Women’s team continued their stellar form at the Australian Junior Championships taking out a 70-37 win in the gold medal clash against New South Wales.
After an early battle against the NSW women, the game opened up as Jessica McCulloch (22 points, eight rebounds), Montana Haag-Witherden (20 points) and Kaitlyn Papworth (10 points, 13 rebounds, five assists) took charge and guided the Victorians to the gold.
Victorian Ivor Burge Women’s Head Coach Joe Borg said it was a great outcome for the team and a welcome relief to get the job done as the reigning champion.
“It’s a relief – coming in as the favourite there’s a bit of pressure, so it was nice to get the job done and in emphatic style,” Borg said. “I’m just really happy for the girls – they worked really hard in the lead up, had been solid all week and we really focused on things like the assist count rather than the final result.
“We obviously tried to be good sports about this week and not bury other teams and just make it as enjoyable for our players as possible.”
The reigning champions went undefeated throughout tournament, further solidifying their impressive winning way at this tournament over the years. Continuing her domination of the tournament, Kaitlyn Papworth was named tournament MVP – averaging a double-double 18 points and 11 rebounds across the tournament.
VICTORIA IVOR BURGE MEN
Downed by perennial rival South Australia in the finale, the Victorian Ivor Burge Men were bested in the gold medal game 60-83.
Taking its third silver medal in a row at this event, the Victorians were brave all week and shone in the grand final in spite of the final result. Jake De La Motte (16 points) and Matt Farrar (14 points) continued their impressive weeks in Mackay in the gold medal clash alongside up-and-coming star Jack Innella (10 points, eight rebounds, eight steals) – who was impressive throughout the tournament.
VICTORIA UNDER-20 MEN
Backing up from a heartbreaking split-second loss to Queensland in the semi-final, the Victorian Under-20 Men returned to form on Sunday afternoon with a 72-64 win over ACT to pick up the bronze medal.
Owen Foxwell (22 points, 10 assists, seven rebounds) flirted with a triple-double in another magnificent performance from the South East Melbourne Phoenix development player alongside the likes of Australian Boomer Bol Dengdit (13 points, seven rebounds) and Centre of Excellence scholarship holder Jensen Bradtke (10 points, seven rebounds).
With a number of bottom-age players starring at the tournament, there will be plenty of familiar faces putting their hand up for selection once again in this team for the 2023 Australian Junior Championships.
VICTORIA NAVY UNDER-20 WOMEN
The Victoria Navy Under-20 Women finished sixth in the tournament following a 67-94 defeat to Western Australia in the 5/6 playoff. Caitlin Richardson (19 points) led the charge for the Navy Women in the finale clash alongside Eliza Bannan (12 points), continued her strong tournament in the final game.
The Navy Women were gutsy against all opposition throughout the week and with a couple of narrow defeats at the hands of other states’ top team, there were plenty of positive signs for the side to come out of Mackay.
VICTORIA NAVY UNDER-20 MEN
Finishing off the tournament on a high note, the Victoria Navy Under-20 Men took a scintillating 73-72 win over Tasmania to clinch seventh place in their final playoff. Trailing by four with seconds remaining, Darcy Jones (12 points) proved the hero of the day, nailing a clutch three-pointer, drawing the foul and making the free throw to put Victoria Navy ahead and clinch the victory. Daniel Mazur (18 points, 12 points), Fraser Roxburgh (13 points, 14 rebounds) and Zahn Agosta (13 points, seven rebounds) all starred throughout the week and capped off their week in style in the playoff.
With a number of close results against other states’ best teams, it was a strong performance from the Navy Men’s side all week.
The next Australian Junior Championships will be the Under-16 tournament held in Perth in the July school holidays.
