For the second consecutive year, the Sandringham Sabres junior representative program had 7 teams qualify for the National Junior Classic.
An invitational tournament played across the King’s Birthday long weekend, the Classic hosts the best 16 teams from all four age groups and both genders with the top teams from the ACT, South Australia and NSW invited to compete against the best 8 teams from Victoria.
Victorian teams are invited to the tournament based on their ranking at the end of the half way point of the Victorian Championship season. A top four finish from any of our VC teams equals a Classic invite.
The Sabres were well represented with U18 Girls, U16 Girls, U14 Girls and U12 Girls all qualifying in addition to the U12 Boys, U14 Boys and U16 Boys.
Some great basketball was played across the whole weekend by all of our teams with both the U16.1 Boys and Girls reaching their respective finals.
The U16.1 Boys dropped a close tussle with Nunawading 61-57 with Will Scalzi dropping 22 points, aided by Michael Fitton (13 points) and Spencer Mitchell (10 points). The boys took home the silver medal but definitely showed some of the qualities that will make them a team to watch when VC recommences on June 14.
For the 16.1 Girls, they had a magnificent weekend taking home the gold medal. After a close first half in the final (Sandringham held a slender 2 point margin at half time 33-31) the Sabres exploded in the second, to run out winners 78-48 over the Melbourne Tigers. Madi Ryan was game MVP, finishing the game with 32 points and justifying her selection to the Sapphires for the U17 World Championships in Mexico later this year. She s assisted by Makayla Craven (22 points) and Taya Woolhouse (9 points)
Other notable performances across the weekend from some of our players and teams:
12.1 Boys. Beat North Adelaide (SA) 66-58 with four players landing in double figures.
14.1 Boys. Won two games in overtime, both by one point, beating Sturt (SA) 65-64 and North Adelaide (SA) 61-60.
12.1 Girls. Beat West Adelaide (SA) 49-35 with Imogen Thomson top scoring with 26 points.
14.1 Girls. Beat Penrith (NSW) 78-51 with four players scoring in double figures
18.1 Girls. Beat Nunawading 63-52 with Bailey De Forest top scoring with 15 and Madeline Angus contributing 12 points.
Congratulations to all our teams on their performances across the weekend. A big thank you also to all the players and parents from other teams who came out and showed their support at both the State Basketball Centre and Dandenong Basketball Stadium.
Sabres final placings for the 2024 National Junior Classic:
- 12 Boys – 7th position (HC Mike McInnes)
- 14 Boys – 12th position (HC Greg Cornell)
- 16 Boys – 2nd position (HC Angus Cotton)
- 12 Girls – 8th position (HC Sally Gittus)
- 14 Girls – 6th position (HC Abby Riggs)
- 16 Girls – Champions (HC Hamish Ryan)
- 18 Girls – 6th position (HC Sally Burke)
