Page 40 - BWA 2021 ANNUAL REPORT

U18 METRO MEN GOLD MEDALISTS
WA Metro Men were crowned 2021 Australian Under-18 Champions following wins in their Gold Medal matches played at Eagle Stadium in Werribee (Victoria).
After the 2020 event was cancelled due to impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, 26 teams featuring the country's best young men's and women's basketball talent from across the nation eagerly converged on this year's Championships.
MEN's FINAL -
QLD North Vs WA Metro
Perhaps an unlikely final heading in the Championships and after both teams finishedthirdintheirrespectivepools,but both QLD North and WA Metro secured their place in the big dance after a stunning run of results during the second half of the tournament.
WA Metro got off to a flyer, leading 8-2 after just three minutes and continued their ascendancy midway through the term, extending their lead to 11 points, 18-7.
Rory Hawke continued his excellent Championships and exerted his influence at both ends of the court for QLD North, helping his team to within five points at quarter-time.
With the score 18-13 at the start of the second, it didn't take long for the Western Australian outfit to pull their lead back out to ten. But thanks to some silky link- up play between Jaylon Beecroft and Kane Runnalls, the deficit was cut to six after three minutes in the term.
As the quarter went on, WA pairing Thomas Gerovich and Ben Henshall turned things up a notch with a series
of strong scored from both inside and outside of the arc, combining for a first half contribution of 21 points to help their side to a 35-25 lead at the main break.
On the back of Hawke and Luca Yates, QLD North levelled the scores 50-all with seconds remaining in the third quarter but a clutch 3-pointer by Gerovich on the buzzer meant WA took the lead into the last ten minutes of the tournament.
Henshall came out firing in the final term with five quick points, and was joined by team mate Ethan Elliot in helping their side go on a 12-2 run and a 65-52 lead.
While they never gave up, it was a margin that QLD North coudn't claw back, with WA Metro claiming the 2021 Championship 76-62.
40 | BWA ANNUAL REPORT 2021