Basketball
19 February, 2025
Redbacks win two titles in Maryborough
The Ararat Redbacks under-18 girls and under-16 boys won their respective groups at the Maryborough & St Arnaud Basketball Tournament on Saturday, February 15, and Sunday, February 16. The Redbacks were also runners-up to Terang in the under-14 boys.
Runners-up also from the Wimmera were the Horsham Hornets under-12 girls, under-14 girls, and the Warracknabeal Wildcats under-16 girls and under-16 boys.
The weekend belonged to the Redbacks, starting with their under-16 boys' 45-28 victory over the Warracknabeal Wildcats. They went through the tournament unbeaten. The Wildcats made it to the grand final undefeated, so the two best teams fought it out.
Athiay Kur was named MVP. He continued his excellent form, scoring 15 points in the grand final. He also led the Redbacks again in the tournament, scoring 62 points in five games. He was second overall in the age group, just four points behind Seymour's Sahibdil Sidhu.
The Redbacks under-18 girls also went through the tournament undefeated. In the grand final, they defeated the Terang Tornadoes 42-35. Lily Moncrief and Ruby Thomas were excellent in the win, scoring 13 and 11 points, respectively.
Thomas scored 56 points in five games for the Redbacks, finishing second overall, 12 points behind Terang's Pippa Barr.
Redbacks' Addison Lardner was named MVP for a terrific tournament.
The Redbacks under-14 boys won three of their four games to reach the grand final, but they lost to the Terang Tornadoes, 22-51. Nate Rhodes scored the most points, with nine.
Jackson Notting top-scored for the Redbacks in the tournament with 52 points, third overall.
The Horsham Hornets were runners-up to the Gators, 18-27, having won three of their four matches to make the grand final. In the grand final, Torah Perry scored 11 points. She also top-scored the entire tournament with a fantastic performance, shooting 50 points, seven ahead of Gators Edith Hicks.
The Hornets under-14 girls made it to the grand final after finishing third on the ladder. They upstaged the more fancied Warracknabeal Wildcats in the semi-finals, winning 26-23.
They lost to the Terang Tornadoes 13-30 in the grand final. Ava Waterworth scored six points in the loss. Indigo Pope was their top scorer for the tournament, shooting 41 points.
For Warracknabeal, Harlow Krahe led the way with 76 points, topping the division, 21 points ahead of Vogue Fleming from Terang.
The Wildcats under-16 girls went undefeated to the grand final. They played BDU Lightning, which they beat 23-19 earlier in the tournament.
In the grand final, BDU Lightning came out strong and won 29-18. Milla Adams top-scored with seven points. Adams also top-scored for the tournament with 61 points, nine ahead of Amillia Langley from BDU Lightning.
The under-18 boys, Stawell Wildcats, fought bravely in the tournament, but unfortunately, they did not win a match. Mason Notting was their top scorer with 38 points.
In the under-18 boys, Stawell and the Hornets played in the same pool. The Warriors won two matches, a 38-36 thriller over Maryborough and a 45-26 win over the Hornets.
Sam Margetson top-scored for the Wildcats with 35 points.
While Horsham didn't win a game, they fought bravely. Noah Seers scored 19 points and was the Hornets' leading scorer.
