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

Apr 15, 2015

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.

Photo Credit: Basketball Australia/Kangaroo Photos

Men

Featured Matches

WA Country 45, NSW Country 106

After losing their tournament opener, NSW Country has come back and are looking as strong as ever, defeating a WA squad that has been struggling this week. NSW Country came out firing, outscoring their opponents 46-11 in a lop-sided first period. What's more impressive is that NSW Country received an impressive contribution from their bench, led by Bailey O'Brien with 5 points, 6 rebounds and 10 assists - the latter stat a tournament high. Matthew Kenyon is slowly rounding into form after struggling in the first few games of the tournament, while Makuach Maluach and Myles Cherry are manning the paint admirably. NSW Country will be tested in their final game of pool action when they face a big VIC Country squad.

Key Performers:

WA Country: Taj Fleming (9 pts, 4 rbs)

NSW Country: Matthew Kenyon (14 pts, 8 rbs), Makuach Maluach (14 pts, 8 rbs)

Queensland North 94, WA Country 54

After sitting out one of yesterday's games, William McDowell-White chose to sit out of Queensland North's matchup against WA Country - likely saving himself for the finals rounds. However, Queensland North didn't seem to be affected at all, with Jesse Milburn stepping up and taking over the scoring load. Harry Froling continues to be efficient - finishing with 27 points and 11 rebounds - his fifth double-double in as many games. Big-man Taj Fleming is doing an admirable job leading a determined WA Country side but, unfortunately, wins have been hard to come by. WA Country (0-5) has a chance to win their first game of the tournament in Day 5's action as they face a winless Northern Territory side.

Key Performers:

Queensland North: Harry Froling (27 pts, 11 rbs), Jesse Milburn (23 pts, 2 asts)

WA Country: Taj Fleming (14 pts, 10 rbs), Sam Julitz (12 pts, 9 rbs)

ACT 52, VIC Metro 102

Photo Credit: Basketball Australia/Kangaroo Photos

VIC Metro has very quietly amassed a 4-0 record to start the tournament, improving each game as they look to finish the pool round undefeated. VIC Metro's Ovie Magbegor stepped up his game in Andreas Panayotou's absence and had a breakout game, doing an unrivalled energy to the floor - doing all of his work inside the paint. Gabe Hadley came into the game with some shooting struggles so he made an effort to attack the rim and get to the free throw line, shooting 9-0f-9 from the charity stripe. ACT had a lot of trouble competing with VIC Metro's size, something that has plagued them throughout the tournament. In Day 5's action, VIC Metro will face NSW Metro - both of whom will be looking to finish the pool rounds undefeated.

Key Performers:

ACT: Jarrod Phillips (11 pts, 1 rb)

VIC Metro: Ovie Magbegor (28 pts, 10 rbs), Gabe Hadley (27 pts, 6 rbs, 9/9 FT)

Other Results

NSW Metro 78, WA Metro 57

Photo Credit: Basketball Australia/Kangaroo Photos

Key Performers:

NSW Metro: Brennan Rymer (14 pts, 7 rbs, 6 asts), Grant Anticevich (12 pts, 9 rbs)

WA Metro: Mitchell McKenna (18 pts, 8 rbs)

SA Metro 132, Northern Territory 47

Key Performers:

SA Metro: Jacob Rigoni (22 pts, 6 rbs), Isaac White (27 pts, 8 rbs)

Northern Territory: Matteo Rowse (18 pts, 3 rbs)

VIC Country 67, Tasmania 50

Key Performers:

VIC Country: Tristan Lloyd (20 pts, 5 rbs, 4 stls), Thomas Pupavac (13 pts, 6 rbs)

Tasmania: Nicholas Barker (10 pts, 10 rbs)

SA Country 79, Queensland South 64

Key Performers:

SA Country: Harrison Mills (12 pts, 11 rbs), Brad Rathjen (14 pts, 6 rbs, 4 asts)

Queensland South: Tom Fullarton (29 pts, 11 rbs, 5 asts)

Women

Featured Matches

NSW Country 70, SA Metro 77

Photo Credit: Basketball Australia/Kangaroo Photos

In what was a game of runs, SA Metro managed to put together an inspired fourth quarter shooting performance to defeat a big NSW Country squad. With the game tied at 47-apiece entering the fourth quarter, the game looked like it was going down to the wire. However, SA Metro's Hannah Lehmann and Bianca Thacker had other idea, getting hot from downtown to lead their team to victory - its fourth in a row. NSW Country dominated the boards, with Abbey George and Cassidy McLean leading the way, but SA Metro's perimeter play on both ends of the floor saw them get the edge. Day 5's action will see SA Metro go up against VIC Country, who are also undefeated up until this point.

Key Performers:

NSW Country: Madison Goddard (20 pts, 9 rbs), Abbey George (2 pts, 15 rbs)

SA Metro: Hannah Lehmann (27 pts, 8/13 3pt), Bianca Thacker (22 pts, 8 rbs)

VIC Metro 88, SA Country 66

With both teams entering this game undefeated, VIC Metro put together an impressive second half to run away with this one. Anneli Maley, who has been quiet to start the tournament, finished with a near triple-double while VIC Metro's bench put together another great performance. A key for VIC Metro was slowing down SA Country's star guard Sarah Elsworthy, and they did just that, holding her to contested perimeter jumpers the entire game. VIC Metro will be looking to finish the pool round undefeated as they face Tasmania in Day 5's action.

Key Performers:

VIC Metro: Anneli Maley (9 pts, 8 rbs, 8 asts), Maddison Rocci (12 pts, 2 asts)

SA Country: Hannah Stewart (16 pts, 5 rbs), Chelsea Brook (10 pts, 6 rbs)

Tasmania 73, NSW Metro 84

After losing their first game of the day, NSW Metro looked like they were going to finish the day's action 0-2. However, an impressive fourth quarter performance saw them come away with the much-needed victory. With NSW down 61-52 entering the final period, it seemed as though all was lost. Bree Delaney had other ideas as she scored 13 of her 28 points in the fourth quarter as NSW Metro stunned the Tasmanians. Delaney had been struggling so far in the tournament so she was due for a big game, and it came just at the right time. NSW Metro will face another test in Day 5 when they face are strong SA Country squad.

Key Performers:

Tasmania: Lauren Mills-Norton (21 pts, 12 rbs), Ellie Collins (19 pts, 5 rbs)

NSW Metro: Bree Delaney (28 pts, 8 rbs), Madeleine Norris (14 pts, 3 rbs)