THREE Junior Collie teams headed to the WA Basketball centre over the weekend to compete against teams from all over WA.
The U/18 Boys and Girls and the U/16 Boys played highly competitive basketball with all teams entering their final game with a Grand Final position available.
The U/18 boys were coached by Matt Storen and were the only team able to grasp the opportunity and play off in a Division 3 Grand Final.
The U/16 Boys lost to Donnybrook in their final match, a team they had beaten earlier, and lost their Championship opportunity.
The U/18 girls rued a first round 1pt loss to Esperance that cost them in the percentage race to their Final.
Collie basketballers Harrison Massara and Kelsey Salmeri were selected in the Top 5 Country All Stars for their respective Divisions, based on umpires votes over the weekend.
The U/18 Boys team consisted of Corey Gulvin, Keiran Shepherd, Harrison Massara, Cameron Davidson, Jack Davidson, Jack Barton, James Abbott, John Dowey and Ethan Williams.
The boys were a class act all weekend impressing with their tight defensive work and willingness to listen to every instruction Coach Storen issued.
Corey Gulvin and Harrison Massara were impressive with their aerial skills, Gulvin thriving under the defensive basket undeterred by his recurrent shoulder dislocation issues and Massara consistently attacking the basket in offense.
Keiran Shepherd was a strong contributor in tight contests thriving on the physicality of the competition and he was well supported by John Dowey whose versatility around the court provided many assists to his team mates.
Jack Barton and James Abbott were lively point guards that set the tone for their team mates with their spirited attack on the ball, harassing the opposition and creating many scoring opportunities.
Ethan Williams played impressive basketball all weekend making great on court decisions and setting up some excellent team play for his Collie team mates.
Cameron Davidson showed an amazing ability to find a pathway to the basket , his skill and versatility an asset to the team.
The genetic connection with his cousin Jack repeatedly on display as the two combined brilliantly on multiple occasions to create scoring opportunities for Collie.
Unfortunately the Grand Final against Harvey did not pan out the way the battle-weary Collie boys would have liked despite their effort and tenacity.
The boys scoring potential abandoned them at the final hurdle and Harvey drew clear to win convincingly shattering all hope of a Collie Championship victory.
The Collie team were great ambassadors for their community and can hold their heads high with their conduct over the weekend.
The U/18 Girls started very late on day one and found it hard to gather momentum in their first game.
They eventually drew clear of Esperance and then forfeited a comfortable lead to lose the game in the final minutes-a result that would haunt them later in the competition.
The loss snapped the team out of their lethargy and they played much better basketball in the next few contests. Kelsey Salmeri began to control the ball and the boards leading the competition for goals scored up until the final game of the weekend.
Georgie-Rose Jackson was outstanding under the basket with her strength and power and was a good contributor to the Collie score line.
Monique and Alyssia Wishart were fierce competitors who made life difficult for the opposition to enter the keyway.
Pauline Ugle and TeKana Jack Tui impressed with their skill and worked incredibly hard all weekend with run and transition from attack to defense.
Hannah Swan, Tabitha McKay and Molly Creasey were versatile contributors who supported their team with aggression and defensive pressure playing a multitude of on- court roles, their attitude and effort outstanding.
The team knew they had to beat leaders Australind to make the Grand Final-no easy feat with the previously Division one Australind line-up having 7 experienced WABL players and a State representative in their squad.
However the defiant Collie girls rose to the challenge and had the Division two leaders reeling with amazing defensive pressure and scoreboard efficiency that forced Australind to change their game plan and were rattled by the Collie onslaught.
The game went to the wire with Collie leading and playing fantastic basketball, until a penalty shot awarded in the last 4 seconds allowed Australind to draw the game-a vital opportunity was missed by Collie.
Collie entered their last game requiring percentage to acquire second place on the ladder, however the energy sapping previous encounter had left the girls struggling with both physical and mental fatigue.
The pressure of having to throw a big score began to mount and although they won the game, it was 3% off that required to enter the Grand Final.
No doubt a very determined team will return next year ever keen to avenge this result.
The U/16 Boys were the surprise packet of the tournament.
Previous Championships had not always seen a good win-loss ratio for this age group however 2015 saw the team finally get reward for effort, narrowly missing a Grand Final birth to complete their fairy tale journey.
Coach Travis Ellison was inspired by the endeavour and effort of his young charges and was thrilled with the transformation that was occurring with every game as the boys basketball developed.
Jakob Pilatti was outstanding and was clearly one of the best players in the competition despite missing All Star selection.
He dominated the scoreboards to finish second overall and was a tower of strength under the basket.
Blake Ellison continues to be one of the competitions biggest u/16 improvers and controlled the ball brilliantly for Collie at both ends of the court and was an influential player.
The mercurial Connor Watts was a class act with precision shooting from outside which complimented Cooper Shepherds relentless attack on the basket with his willingness to drive.
Darcy Clarke and Jacob Lowick were revelations in the Collie line-up who grew in confidence and strength with every game to ensure Collie combined superbly.
Jack Hunter-Mehrtens in his first ever Championship inspired the Collie boys with his willingness to attack and harass his opponents and was an asset to the team.
The Boys played some fantastic passages of basketball and with a little more experience may have forced their way into the Grand Final.
The enthusiasm and love for the game is clearly evident in this tight knit unit controlled by Ellison and Manager Jodie Pilatti, with great parental support and camaraderie ensures the boys have a promising basketball future.
