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U18 Nationals Ballarat

Anon 466 re the rock and shovel....only the NSW Country family know the story, all part of the Country boy mystique, everyone else will just have to wonder?

Inika Hodgson is no relation to Matt

agree with vic metro fan on stats!! funny to watch all parents , and listen to how much talk is about stats . then you get old heads watching games and can pick and see the better players without a stat sheet in front of them. some players where so good on the defensive end or running a team. elsworthy(sac) ran the point to perfection all week but was out of petrol tickets come g/f, rowe (vm)outstanding defence player, mole(tas)struggled when not on floor,was glue. miegel(wac) guarded point guards and centres all week, there team leaked points when she sat, the bigs for both nsw teamsintimidated girls with size, scheler,thacker,cubillo, allgirls who looked good without a stat sheet. has any one woken up the vic-country coach yet, because he was a sleep in the quarter final game. congratulations to the big v women.great job to the sac girls.

#447 - sorry, I dont have a program and so can't pick the 1999 born from other states. There will be others that can help with that one. There were a number of VG SA kids but not sure of their ages

#411 Rebecca Pizzey 6ft3 1999 born. Started for Vic Metro should be in your list.

I actually watched many games from the tournament and I agree the stats can be deceiving primarily because they don't record anything do with defense other than rebounding. I trust that the U17 team will not be a team of shooters who can't play team defense.

Not sure that LC watched many games because he consistently missed great contributions by players and focused on shooters (who at times didn't even shoot well). The write up of the gold medal game commented on N George have a stand out game. Sorry LC, wasn't great. I think you actually meant Maddi Rocci who did play well. Also, you seem to keep missing Keira Rowe. Started almost every game for Vic Metro, got the job on the best players, outstanding defender. 6ft and 1999 born, scored well in some games and played plenty of minutes throughout the week. Has already been recognized by BA having been to the last camp.

Similarly Rebecca Pizzey. 1999 born, started each game, Top scored in a couple of games for Vic M, similar build to Ezi but no mention in any of the write ups.

Don't get me wrong, all girls were fabulous during the week and contributed in many ways but when people speculate on who will make Aus teams who are just going off stats (understand everyone can't be there however) there will no doubt be surprises when the teams are actually selected.

I agree with Anon 340, VC been on a downhill slant since Marty's days.

The U18’s Australian Junior Championship has come to an end, with the country’s best talent producing an unforgettable week of basketball.

NSW Country took away the Men’s Championship, defeating NSW Metro in what was a thrilling interstate battle, while VIC Metro won the Women’s Championship in dominant fashion – capping off an impressive run of back-to-back Championships.

2015 U18’s Nationals – Tournament Recap

Don't have the program handy but Pizzey same height or just a touch smaller than Ezi. Had a great tournament. Started for Vic Metro as a bottom age player and averaged 9.75 ppg at 60%, 5.5rpg 1.5apg.

Ezi Magbegor also a great tournament 11.5ppg at 61% 8.62 rpg 1.5apg

Anneli Maley the standout for Vic Metro particularly late in the week. I reckon she must have set a record for rebounds in the last 2 games in 23 and 25.

Reply #525319
re: U18 Nationals Ballarat
Why would you "loose" the borders between metro and country in Victoria when all of the other mainland states have a metro and country stream. Personally I think fingers should be pointed at the messiah from Tasmania and the "impact" he has had on Country Vic basketball, both teams under achieved at these championships. Conspiracy theorists may suggest ulterior motives.... maybe he was the poster wanting them merged.


The training level that has been implemented since the Marty Handson days of country Vic leaves a lot to be desired and it is now showing, these kids are the ones who have come through after that. So it's not just been one head coach.

Well done and congratulations to NSWC and VICM...

Wow!

anon #004 Chantal and Harry have greatly benefited from CoE training and everything it has to offer to reach their potential.

Will is CoE caliber and along with them, I agree with your assumption. They have been standouts in this tournament for sure.

Chantal has grown and looks about 6'0" if not slightly taller now, with her athleticism and game she has progressed very well.

Harry looks bigger and stronger than anyone his size in this tournament and will stand out accordingly, but as I have stated the CoE development has assisted him as it should, otherwise I would be worried about the program to be honest.

There was never any doubt with Will's efforts at the Adidas Nations that he is world class...

Good tough win by Vic Metro men against NSW Metro by 8 points. Vic Metro play Vic Country men today which will be another tough contest. Vic Metro women cruising through so far. Looking the goods for the title

Does anyone know what time the men's & womans final is on Saturday. Thanks in advance.

As has been the trend throughout the tournament, Day 4 was full of blow-out victories, and with just one more day of the pool round, the finals games can’t come fast enough.

Both Victorian Women’s squads are performing as well as expected while Day 5 will see an exciting matchup between two undefeated Men’s teams – NSW Metro vs VIC Metro.

2015 Australian U18’s Nationals Day 4 Recap – VIC Metro Women continue to impress

Day 2 recap is available.

After Day 2 of the U18’s Australian Junior Championships we still have a few undefeated teams left and, at this point of the tournament, it’s becoming a lot clearer as to who the favourites are.

2015 Australian U18’s Nationals Day 2 Recap – Both SA Women’s teams looking strong

Liking the look of QLD North with WMW and Froling dominating.

Interesting first up game between NSWC and QLDN.

NSWC one of supposed favourites with last years result and sixteens players coming through and QLDN also up there and they have come away with the win.

Country normally get better as the week goes on, so lets see what happens.

Wonder - did you check who was the author of that article? It was certainly not me - I just shared it!

While I was hoping to get to Ballarat, work and family commitments will prevent me from being there, even if it was for the weekend.

Nonetheless, Olgun has a very good understanding of the players at this level. It is his opinion based on the information available to him and from the countless hours of games/video he has watched.

While I appreciate that LC is taking the time to write these articles, it is hard to get all the current info from a distance. As far as I know, Jasmine Simmons, while very talented, has withdrawn about a month ago, due to injury. It would be good to be in contact with the coaches before writing these articles?

U18 National preview now up on PnR!

2015 U18 Australian Junior Championship Preview

Last year’s U18’s tournament saw VIC Metro defeat a tough NSW Country side in the Men’s Championship game while the Women’s Championship game saw VIC Metro defeat their Country counterparts.

Who will prevail in 2015?

Men's early prediction: Queensland North
Women's early prediction: Vic Metro

im sure paul salter and those sa country girls are going to be right in the mix , some exceptionally strong girls in the bigs rounded off with classy guards karteyerni etc - big show .
mixed feelings about the call on mal penno- old saying you have to have the cattle right !
watch for wa metro men to be tough to get over they should not be underestimated , my mail tells me they were good at an s.b.l tournament recently and coached by beveredge.
hoycard ( wa country women )to stretch every big in comp. she is a tough cover can shoot the 3 as well.
good luck to all the kids . good luck paul salter with that target on your big ugly melon.

Bogut played for the Vics in U/20's.Damian Cotter was the Coach

He did miss selection in 2001 Vic Met 18's and swore he would show the coaches they made a mistake and now he has well and truly proven it

Nix 34 - that is in pool 2. Pool 1 has Bulleen on top of the ladder. Interesting question though. Maybe playing well as a team without having any superstars

I will be there for every day, looking forward to it, Go Vic!!

Think you'll find the reason people rate NSW Country men is that they won u/16s for the last 2 years....add in 3 of the better players from last years winning side to the side that won 2 years ago and it should be a winning combination. The title is there's to win, but depends on the improvement I other groups.

I'm glad that one of the NSW Metro parents thinks that their team is a chance...but not sure on what that's based?

It's a pretty open boys Tournament for me. NSW Metro are well trained from what I have seen. Vic Metro look the goods to me, don't know the coach but the Team looked pretty sharp a few weeks ago. Why does everyone rate NSW Country so highly? They look OK but not the raging favourites many seem to think.

Vic country has for years used weekend camps for state prep, with very long days and any longweend holidays that may be available or school holidays that have extended them to three day camps, with days. Whinnie going at 8 and ending at 8. Vic metro have me dr had weekend camps or long training sessions, they have traditionally had three sometimes four two hr sessions throughout the week with scrimmages against older teams as their prep.
All changed for country this year, no weekend camps just one day camps.

NSW country in either girls or boys in previous years having the weekend pep camps haven't beaten the Vic teams,

The NZ non-medal is not a new thing, they attended the u/18 National men here in Adelaide in 1976 (77 or 78)and that was the case then.