Hoops

U14 club champs 2018

really good 05 talent in the boys.

Girls look to have some nice future sf and post prospects but I didn't see any top notch pgs.

Gold Coast with the upset? Most have said they are the favourites.

Sandringham didn’t have a 3 point shooter with a hot hand, they have 5 girls shoot 1 each. They do have a blond female version of Ben Simmons. Good luck stopping her!

Grand Final

Boys
Eltham(vic) vs Nunawading(vic)

Girls
Sandringham(vic) vs Gold Coast(qld)

Boys-Top of Pools

A-Eltham-vic
B-Blacktown-nsw
C-Warrnambool-vic
D-Nunawading-vic
E-Bulleen-vic
F-Sydney-nsw


Girls-Top of Pools

Melbourne-vic
Knox-vic
Hills-nsw
Gold Coast-qld
Sandringham-vic
Sturt-sa

Hopefully they continue it through the other junior tournaments.

The post player from the wodonga girls team looks like she could grow to Cambages size.

Link?

All the show court games streamed this week. Great stuff BA. Credit to Kilsyth and Shepparton associations.

Team lists are out.
Enormous amount of talent in this age group.


http://australia.basketball/2018-under-14-boys-and-girls-club-championship-team-lists-revealed/

Agree. Melbourne are too small to compete with the waves.

Not interesting at all, interstate teams and Altona will play a zone and nothing will be done about it

be interesting to see how the organizers handle teams playing zone defence

Missing the point, when did a spot open up and how did Dandenong get it?

Currently? Altona beat Dandenong 2 weeks ago. Dandenong have finished 8th,altona 5th. Hawthorn still in the hunt

One hiccup in you're season can cause you not to make the tournament.
Dandenong currently 5th behind hawthorn.
The real question is how did Altona make it who currently 8th.

How did Dandenong get in?

Hawthorn would have been right up there in the girls.

Group winners...

Girls
Tigers-A vic
Raiders-B vic
Rangers-C vic
Waves-D qld
Sabres-E vic
Gators-F vic

Draws are out.

Boys
http://australia.basketball/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/2018_U14-Boys_Draw.pdf

Girls
http://australia.basketball/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/2018_U14-Girls_Draw.pdf

A lot of hype about a team that hasn't played against any real competition. I'd be careful about setting expectations too high for any QLD team. The last time they won it, it required them recruiting studs after their state championship.

I would say Gold Coast are ahead of Melbourne even though they are undefeated in vjbl.

They are a much bigger team too.

gold coast must be good then cause nobody getting near melb tigers

The disparity between teams has never been greater.
Gold Coast is the only team outside of vic with a shot.

Forestville not that strong this year but they are assembling - will be daylight between them and other SA teams in next year U14s

Yes #700835, VC Championship, Classic & Nationals, and it's harder than you think. You have to finish top 2 in your pool at the end of the second phase to make Nationals (this year 4 of the current top 5 were in the same pool during that phase, hence Altona (currently placed 7th) getting through), top 4 to make the Classic and top 5 to make VC champ. Every game virtually is cut throat from Feb til the end of May. Back in the day, it was the two teams that made the GF for Nationals, seems fairer but less time to fund raise I guess

Gold Coast women are stacked.
They have to be favourites imo.
I think 4-5 fdp players. Mix of guards, wings and post players.

Is VJBL, Classics and Nationals (for a VIC team for example) kind of like a Triple Crown for junior clubs?

Dandenong are not in the conversation, didn't make Nationals and wouldn't be challenging Melbourne, Knox or Sabres even if they had. Altona got lucky, they have a top 5 kid but not much else, will be lucky to make top 8 at Nationals

Apologies - I am referring to the girls. Sorry.

Having won the classic and topped their metro pool, the Tigers should be favorite, with Sandy, Knox and Dandenong in the mix.

Given this is a very young age group, upsets are more likely to happen than in the older age groups; indeed one of delights of past tournaments has been the capacity for surprises.

No teams from Old, WA and Tas played the classic - little idea what they are capable of. I will be surprised if any NSW team (metro or country) makes the top 10. Ditto ACT. IMO Sturt/Mavericks have a shot at top 10, but not top 6.

I would be interested in reading from others identifying what team(s) they think will surprise (to the upside) in the tournament, even if they don't win it.

My surprise team is Altona making the top 6. Other views?

lot of zone in classics - would like to see it cracked down on. Even with zone liaison managers - players / coaches know how to play m to m D at this level. Saw so many teams win at classics by just running back in the keyway and shutting the game down when it got close - based on most U14s can't shoot the outside shot at an acceptable %.

Watch the Medibank classic to see the difference.

Lateretis must be from sa or nsw.
Vics and Gold Coast are far ahead.

Victoria appears to be way ahead of the other states. Only makes sense to have it there. Only other viable place would be North Queensland.

Gold Coast the only team outside of vic to challenge.

see NSW has 4 teams and SA 3 - how long has NSW had a 4th team and SA only 3 ?

Melbourne Tigers in girls - well ahead of others.

Two years ago, Boti was calling for Ninnis to fall on his sword.
Two years on, he has been rather subdued when it comes to Clarke.
Compare:
Ninnis
08/09 15W - 15L (made playoffs)
09/10 10W - 18L 8th & bottom
Clarke
10-11 9W - 19L 8th from 9
11-12 8W - 20L 9th & bottom