In an amazing display of junior basketball, the Under 18 VC Grand Finals for both girls and boys were held for the first time on a Saturday night at the refurbished showcourt at the State Basketball Centre. This event highlighted the best young talents in Victorian junior basketball, drawing a large crowd of spectators and even more viewers online.
The evening tipped off with the girls' final, where the Melbourne Tigers faced off against the Nunawading Spectres. Both teams, stacked with players from the Victorian state teams, promised a fierce competition. The game lived up to expectations, with Isobelle Wightman of the Melbourne Tigers shining as the MVP, scoring 18 points and dominating under the ring, leading her team to a comfortable victory over the Spectres. For Nunawading, Jada Kennedy and Taia McMechan contributed significantly, scoring 11 and 10 points, respectively.
The boys' final was equally intense, featuring a tight game that highlighted the physicality and skill of the big men on court. Henry Sewell of the Dandenong Rangers, who scored a game-high 20 points including a HUGE dunk, was named MVP. His teammate also had his eye in, Ed Brammell who added 14 points to the scoreboard. The Knox Raiders, however, kept the game competitive with Ryder Cheesman and Oliver Greeves each putting up 13 points. In the end, the Dandenong Rangers came through, winning by nine points.
Greg Jeffers, General Manager League and Competitions Basketball Victoria was excited about seeing this showcase come to fruition and how well it was received, “We aimed to provide a special event for our U18 Victorian Championship finalists with their own standalone event for the first time. The stands were packed with over 1500 people filling the venue at the recently reopened State Basketball Centre showcourt, thousands more were able to watch on Kayo Freebies - putting our teams and their clubs on centre stage!”
He continued, “We’d like to congratulate all four teams for making their respective Grand Finals and thanks to the NBL and Kayo for helping bring it altogether. We look forward to building on this amazing opportunity for the kids in the future.”
Congratulations to the Melbourne Tigers and Dandenong Rangers on their impressive victories in the 2024 Under 18 VC Grand Finals, showcasing the depth and talent of Victorian junior basketball.
To check out more of the on court action click below.
