No silverware for local sides in country champs

Albany and Denmark were unable to come away from the annual Basketball WA Senior Country Championships in Perth last weekend with any titles.

Albany’s division 5 ladies’ team made it through to the grand final at the tournament, winning all six of their pool games on the way.

However, in the grand final against Geraldton, they trailed by five points at half-time and were never able to recover from that position.

Geraldton held the Albany women at bay to win 29-20 in the decider with Courtney Henderson (6 points) and Kym Quartermaine (5) doing their best to drag Albany back into the match.

Albany were knocked out in the semifinals of both the women’s championship division and the men’s vets.

Despite winning only one pool game, Albany finished fourth in the standings but faced the undefeated Geraldton in the semifinals.

Geraldton scored the last six points of the first half to lead by 11 points and they finished comfortable 21 point winners in the end.

Shianne Arthur and Jasmyne Jones scored five points each in the 36-15 loss.

Albany’s only win came over Pinjarra on Sunday, prevailing 26-15 in that match.

In the men’s vets, Albany went down to Geraldton by 13 points in the semifinals despite the best efforts of Geoff Pears (10) and Tristan Mackenzie (9).

Justin Benson starred for the vets, averaging 10.67 points per game, and Phil Beattie averaged 9.33 points per game.

Denmark finished fourth in the standings of the men’s division 3 competition, winning four of their six matches.

Albany had a 4-2 record in men’s division 5, but a loss on the final day ended their hopes of making the grand final.

Denmark’s division 4 men finished last without a win and Albany’s division 3 women also went winless.