Albany boys claim title at country champs

Albany Basketball Association claimed another title at the 2017 Basketball WA Country Championships, winning the under-14 boys’ championship division grand final on Sunday, February 26.

At the junior boys’ weekend of the annual championships, Albany were successful after downing Bunbury in a tense under-14s decider.

The Raiders led 23-16 at half- time and Bunbury closed within four points during the second half but through steadying baskets to Austin Beeck and Lucas Air, they were able to hang on, 42-36.

Air was terrific in the six-point grand final triumph with 10 points and was ably supported by Beeck (eight points) and Levi James-Wallace (eight).

Albany won their first four round robin matches against Mandurah (25-12), Kalgoorlie (31-14), Geraldton (26-15) and Busselton (15-13), but fell to Bunbury by nine points in the final regular game.

In the under-15s boys’ championship division, Albany also reached the final but lost to Bunbury, 47-26.

Their sole loss in the round robin stage came against Bunbury, but wins over Pinjarra, Geraldton, Mandurah, Busselton and Australind helped them set up a rematch in the decider.

Kya Faulkner hit 10 points in the grand final loss and Corey Jerrard chipped in with five, but Bunbury took control just before half-time and never looked back.

Mt Barker finished seventh in the under-14s boys’ division 3 standings, with two wins and five losses to their name. Albany went winless in the under-13s boys’ championship division, losing four games and drawing 23-23 with Geraldton, while Denmark were fifth with one win and four losses in the under-18s boys’ division 3.

The Raiders side in the under-12s boys’ championship division finished fifth on the standings.

In the All-Star teams, Matthew Jerrard was picked in the under-13s boys’ championship division, and Craig Anning was named coach of the under-14s boys’ championship division.

Mt Barker’s Michael Drayton was selected in the under-14s boys’ division 3 and Faulkner was named in the under-15s boys’ championship division team.