THE Lithgow Basketball Association’s junior men’s competition held the grand final day with the four age divisions all producing some exciting end-to-end play.

A large and appreciative crowd packed the Lithgow Indoor Sports Centre to cheer the players from all eight teams onto the court following their warm-ups and introductions.

The players played their part, producing a high level of intensity in both attack and defence.

Lithgow Lazers star John Fenton was on hand to present the winners and runners-up with their trophies at the end of each game.

Although the day belonged to the players, the efforts of the referees were not forgotten.

Mitchell Gurney, Kobe Hunter, Adam Marjoram, Hayden Cox, Callum Flynn, Austyn Lincoln, Zeke Evans, Craig Flynn, Scott Simcoe, David Swift and Richard Marjoram were all thanked for their efforts over the season.

A special presentation was made to young Shona Daly, who travelled down from the Mountains every week to referee several games.

The Lithgow Association also farewelled several players who will move out of the junior ranks next year.

These included Bayden Charlton, Brandon Cheney, Jason Drury-Doohan, Lleyton Guest, Toby Kenniff and Ethan Petra.

Most of these young men have been playing basketball since under 12s and several have turned out for the Lithgow Lazers.

It is hoped they will continue playing basketball in the senior competition.

The association also thanks Jeff Geddes and the Mercury staff for running the reports each week.

Muster days for both boys and girls will be held in February for next season’s competitions which will run until June.

Boys and girls aged from about nine up are welcome to play.

Younger children should look out for the popular Aussie Hoops program which will run again next year.

More information on anything related to basketball in Lithgow can be found in the Lithgow Mercury, on Radio 2LT, Lithgow Basketball Development Program Facebook page, or by contacting Richard Marjoram on 6352 1635.

Last season, the teams that qualified first for their grand finals all fell in the decider.

This season, in a complete reversal, every team that won their major semi final also tasted grand final success.

Under 10 Division

Unbeaten minor premiers Spurs came out with all guns blazing against Kings and completely shut them out to run up a 16-nil half time lead.

They extended the margin to 24-nil early in the second period before Kings got on the board.

Another three straight baskets for Kings made Spurs a bit nervous at 24-8 but they tightened their defence again to run out winners 26-8.

In completing an undefeated season, where their only blemish was a tie near the end, Spurs showed great teamwork with Denzel Ravesi, Ryan Gill, Alex Flynn, Archie Morris, Jessy Tesoriero and Ben and Ethan Achurch all contributing to the victory.

For Kings it was a good season and Mitchell Wallace, Jack Goodwin, Ashton Thompson, Talyn Haynes-Milligan, Lincoln Hutchison and Connor Fitzpatrick can be proud of their efforts.

Spurs’ Alex Flynn was named MVP of the grand final.

The game was well controlled by young referees Zeke Evans and Callum Flynn.

Under 12 Division:

Minor premiers Lions and challengers Panthers played out a dour first half with strong defence a highlight.

Lions led 4-2 a few minutes in and that remained the score for virtually the rest of the half as rushed shots caused by swarming defence failed to drop.

Lions scored near the end of the half to go to the break with a valuable 6-2 edge.

The game opened up a bit more in the second half and Lions slowly pulled away to lead 19-9 with time running out.

A couple of late baskets for Panthers closed the gap but not enough as Lions claimed the title 19-13.

For Lions, Riley Hart, Ben Webber, Hutch Evans, Hayden Rodham, Kade Inwood, Josh Brown and Dayne Houlison played well on both sides of the ball.

Lachie Thompson, Luke Baker-Hogan, Mitchell Jennings, Kynan Coombes and Taj Jenkins just couldn’t get to the basket often enough for Panthers against an energetic defence.

Hutch Evans from Lions was named MVP while Shona Daly and Scott Simcoe were the referees.

Under 14 Division

Lions faced a tough assignment against the minor premiers Bulls, who were out for revenge after Lions had overpowered them in the major semi final.

Bulls were on track for redemption when they led 27-21 late in the first half before going to the break still in command at 30-25.

It was Lions who came out roaring in the second stanza however, as they dominated the first five minutes to hit the front 35-34.

They wouldn’t relinquish the lead the rest of the way and finished the stronger to take the game 62-52.

Ryan Bird, Riley Bell, Connor Moss, Luke Thompson, Callum Flynn and Luke Brown got Lions firing throughout the play-offs and were the better team on the day.

Lachlan Wilson, Will Brown, Luke Baker-Hogan, Lachie Thompson and Billy Baker-Hogan all got on the score sheet and can hold their heads high in a season where Bulls won the minor premiership, but ran into a Lions team that got hot in the last few weeks.

Lions’ Luke Thompson was named MVP.

Referees Shona Daley and David Swift did well to keep up with the fast-flowing, highscoring game.

Under 16-18 Division

Minor premiers Wolves’ shot at an undefeated season came down to their match-up with the tough Heat outfit, who had pushed them to overtime in the major semi final two weeks earlier.

Unfortunately both sides went into the game understrength.

The question of which team could best overcome the disruption to their structure only added to the intrigue of how the grand final would play out.

The Heat were without tall timbers Nick Miller and Tom Pottinger due to other commitments, while offensive spearhead Hayden Cox was out of the Wolves line-up due to an eye injury suffered in the major semi.

The Heat started the better, kicking away to an 18-13 lead midway through the first period.

Wolves responded with an 8-0 run to go up 21-18 but at the break Heat had regained the upper hand to lead 34-29.

Wolves chipped away at the deficit after the break to get ahead 43-41 and wouldn’t trail again.

The Heat gave themselves a chance at 49-all but Wolves controlled the ball better in the dying minutes and pulled away to win 60-53.

Fletcher Swift, Lleyton Guest, Zeke Evans, Seton Carter, Matt Ringin and Daniel Galloway ran a fluent offence in sealing Wolves’ perfect season, while Hayden Cox stepped into the coaching role to help keep his team on track.

The Heat were tough at both ends as usual, with Teirimana Whanga-Katipa, Toby Kenniff, Bayden Charlton, Tallis Flynn, Jayden Bergagin and Jarron Petra all hitting baskets and leaving nothing on the court in a game that could have gone their way with a bit of luck.

MVP honours went to Toby Kenniff after a gallant display from the Heat’s captain.

Richard Marjoram and Scott Simcoe did an excellent job of refereeing a very physical game.

Full results

Under 10: Spurs 26 (R Gill 10, D Ravesi 6, E Achurch 4, A Flynn 4, J Tesoriero 2) defeated Kings 8 (C Fitzpatrick 6, T Haynes-Milligan 2).

Under 12: Lions 19 (K Inwood 6, B Webber 6, H Evans 3, R Hart 2, H Rodham 2) defeated Panthers 13 (L Thompson 9, T Jenkins 4).

Under 14: Lions 62 (L Thompson 34, R Bird 14, L Brown 8, C Flynn 6) defeated Bulls 52 (B Baker-Hogan 14, W Brown 13, L Thompson 12, L Wilson 9, L Baker-Hogan 4).

Under 16-18: Wolves 60 (F Swift 26, L Guest

14, Z Evans 9, S Carter 6, M Ringin 5) defeated Heat 53 (T Flynn 20, T Kenniff 19, J Petra 6, B Charlton 4, J Bergagin 2, T Whanga-Katipa 2).

* See winning and runners-up teams on

the Lithgow Mercury’s website photo galleries.