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Young basketballers shine at Echuca tournament

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Tip off: Echuca’s unde-12 Girls B Pirates in action at the opening tournament of the season. Photo: Echuca-Moama Basketball Association

Country basketballers from far and wide flocked to the region last weekend, taking part in the Echuca-Moama Basketball Association’s annual tournament.

More than 100 teams and over 1000 people were involved in the mega three-day tournament, which saw plenty of local talent out on the court.

The Echuca Pirates had 18 teams competing across the different age groups, while Rochester Basketball Association had eight sides in action.

It was a stellar effort across the board for both the Pirates and the Tigers. Echuca had six teams reach the grand final, with the under-14 boys Division 1 and Division 3 sides winning the decider. Rochester had four of its eight teams reach the grand final, with the under-12 Division 2 boys winning the finale.

Number one: Echuca's under-14 development team proudbly dhow off their trophies after their grand final win. Photo: EBA

Echuca-Moama Basketball Association (EMBA) president Lisa Baker said the annual tournament was a great success.

“It was fantastic,” Baker said.

“We had 104 teams all up, and the furthest came from Grifith in NSW, which is awesome.

“We have 18 teams this year, which is the most we have ever had. We had six teams in the grand final and two of those won, which is amazing.

“A lot of teams did really well. Being our first tournament, and considering we hadn’t played together as a team, we did really well.”

Pirates in paly: Echuca’s under-12A team taking on the Wangaratta Warriors. Photo: EMBA

The three-day event in Echuca was the first regional basketball tournament of the season, with five more to follow over the coming months.

After a strong start to the season, Baker said all the teams were excited to get back out on the court.

“We have five more tournaments to go, and it is looking super positive, especially for our development teams,” she said.

“We thought they might only go to one or two tournaments, but with the calibre of kids we have got, we thought let’s go to all of them, and they want to play.

What a feeling: Rochester’s under-12 boys team celebrate after their grand final win. Photo: Rochester Basketball Association

“It is really exciting. The teams that lost in the grand finals are super eager to get to the next tournament in Swan Hill.

“Everyone is so excited to get back to training and develop. We know some of our strengths and weaknesses and what we need to work on.”

The annual tournament is just one part of a mega few weeks for EMBA. The association held its annual jamboree last week as well, with both the Country Basketball League and domestic seasons also set to tip off in the near future.

Jump shot: Rochester's Cale James drives into the key and gets his shot away. Photo: RBA Photo by Contributed

Baker said the tournament was a huge deal not just for EMBA, but for the Echuca-Moama region as a whole.

“The tournament is our major fundraiser of the year,” she said.

“We try to run it as best we can, and we have had some really good feedback this year, as we do normally every year, just on how well run it is.

Proud achievement: Echuca’s under-12 Girls B in action. The Pirates had 18 teams playing at the tournament, the most the association has ever had. Photo: EMBA

“The games were on time, the referees were good, so it is a real positive to go in to plan for next year and make it bigger and better.

“For the region, the amount of money it brings in is phenomenal.

“For the ones who haven’t been here before, you hope that they decide to come back to Echuca-Moama for a holiday, not just for basketball.

“A lot of teams stay between jamboree and our tournament, so they had a few days in Echuca-Moama too.”

Game plan: Echuca’s under-14 development team talk ahead of one of their games at the Echuca tournament. Photo: EBA

With this year’s tournament now in the books, Baker said it was great to see the players back in action, while thanking everyone involved for making the event such a special one.

“Seeing everyone back out on the court was the best part,” she said.

“The Pirate family is amazing. The amount of people that offered in the canteen or the raffle or even to clean up rubbish, it is really awesome to see, it is a real family environment.”

The next tournament will be held in Swan Hill on Saturday and Sunday, October 22 and 23.

Pirate party: Echuca’s under-14 A boys were one of two Pirates teams to win the grand final. Photo: EBA
Team talk: The Pirates’ under-12A side during a time out at the annual tournament. Photo: EMBA
Winners are grinners: Rochester’s under-12 boys with their medals after winning the grand final. Photo: RBA Photo by Contributed
Up in the air: Rochester’s Harrison Keating leaps as he goes for a layup. Photo: RBA Photo by Contributed
Team spirit: Rochester's under-16 girls team, one of the eight sides the Tigers had in action at the Echuca tournament. Photo: RBA Photo by Contributed
Tiger time: Rochester’s under-12 girls team, pictured, made it through to the grand final at the Echuca tournament. Photo: RBA Photo by Contributed
On the run: Rochester’s Seth hunter dribbles down the court. Photo: RBA Photo by Contributed
Words of wisdom: Echuca’s under-14A coach addresses the team. Photo: EBA