It has been a couple of huge weeks at the Lakes Entrance Youth and Recreation Centre with the staging of the 2025 winter season grand finals, and thrilling finales they were.
In the under 19 mixed finale, Team Shannon and Team Simon played a close and at times intense match, with very little separating the sides.
Team Shannon came from four points behind to win by a solitary goal in a thriller, 47-46.
Season MVP, Jayden Hayes also picked up the grand final MVP for his 25 points.
At the post-game presentation, MVP runner-up, James Morrison and junior coordinator award winner, Beau Steadman were also acknowledged.
In the under 16 mixed finale, Team Damien trailed narrowly at half time, and after trading baskets up the stretch, found themselves, two points in front, when the siren sounded.
Season MVP Durome Abbey scored 22 points for the winners, with Cooper Anderson picking up some consolation for the loss, winning the grand final MVP.
Other award winners were Cody Nairn (junior coordinator award) and Lachlan Carey (runner-up MVP).
Another super close match in the under 14 mixed section, with Team Jason coming from a remarkable 11 points behind at half time to snatch victory late in the second half, by just a point, 33-32.
Flynn Whelan starred picking up the MVP award in the grand final, with Chad Russell taking the regular season award from Rocky Wetere-Katipa, with the junior coordinator award going to Brodi Darcy.
In the under 12 mixed, Team Josh led from start to finish, winning by eight points, led by grand final MVP, Beau Russell who shot 19 points.
The regular season MVP was Jordan Morrison, with Levi Poynton runner-up and Georgia McGuinness getting the junior coordinators award.
While in the under 10′, Tam Gabi were the best side in the second half, overcoming Team Brent 19-15, with the grand final MVP going to Taj Behan.
In the seasonal awards, Ethan Wright picked up the MVP, with Chad Richardson, Behan and Oscar Kenny runners-up, Harry Stephenson a popular winner of the junior coordinator award.
In Friday night’s finale, Team/Fi/Mikaela proved too solid late in the match for Team Cal winning 30-24, with Violet Lyon the match MVP.
Seasonal MVP winner was Ivy O’Donnell, with runner-up, Lacey Lee, both who impressed in the grand final
Junior coordinator award winner was Shiloh Eiseman.
With the game up for grabs in the junior girls at three quarter time, Team Jason score 10-3 to win convincingly, 20-8, with Sadie Williams shooting 16 points.Grand final MVP was Phoebe Strong, with the season winner, Abbey Lawrence from Williams, with the junior coordinator victor, Elan Jakobi.
Under 12 mixed winter season premiers – Team Josh: Coach Josh Piper with victorious players Ethan Wright, Ollie Connally, Kade Watson, Dwine Rigorm, Beau Russell, Billie Piper and Benji Barkway. (PS)
Under 12 mixed winter season runners-up – Team Kane: Represented by Patrick Baylis, Jesse Downing, Jake Richardson, Lachlan Cross, Georgia McGuinness and Tyler Purcell, pictured with coach Kane Downing. (PS)
Under 12 individual award winners: Georgia McGuinness (junior coordinator), Jordan Morrison (season MVP), Levi Poynton (season MVP runner-up) and Beau Russell (grand final MVP). (PS)
Award winners in the under 10 competition were Ethan Wright (MVP), Chad Richardson, Taj Behan, Oscar Kenny (all runner-up MVPs) and Harry Stephenson (junior coordinator). Behan was also the grand final MVP. (PS)
Junior girls winter season winners – Team Jason: Coach Jason Whelan with players, Emily Whelan, Ava Corrie, Evelyn Jenkins, Leanna Nguyen, Sadie Williams and Myla Fall. (PS)
Junior season winter season runners-up – Team Sarah: Coach Sarah Lawrence with team members, Abbey Lawrence, Zoe Nairn, Huxley Dickson, Phoebe Strong and Taylah Downing. (PS)
Individual trophies in the junior girls were awarded to Elan Jakobi (junior coordinator award), Sadie Williams (MVP runner-up), Abbey Lawrence (MVP) and Phoebe Strong (grand final MVP). (PS)
Girls competition winter season winner – Team Fi/Mikaela: Coaches Fiona Yates and Mikaela Witherow with players Willow Watson, Violet Lyon, Ivy O’Donnell, Mia Martin, Isobel Mills, Scarlett Smith and Marisal Milito. (PS)
Girls competition winter season runners-up, Team Cal: Lacey Lee, Elise Mahony, Terrah Dowie, Evelyn Ash, Jasmyn McKay and Ava Martin pictured with coach Callum Lee. (PS)
Individual award winners in the girls competition were: Ivy O’Donnell (season MVP), Lacey Lee (runner-up MVP), Violet Lyon (grand final MVP) and Shiloh Eiseman (junior coordinator award). (PS)
Under 19 mixed winter season runners-up – Team Simon: Taking the court were team members Jayden Hayes, Bill Prior, Henry Gavin, Oscar Mann, Harrison Coventry and Blake Smits pictured with coach Simon Prior. (PS)
Under 19 mixed individual trophy winners: Beau Steadman (junior coordinator award), Jayden Hayes (MVP and grand final MVP) and James Morrison (runner-up MVP). (PS)
Under 16 mixed winter season premiers – Team Damien: Team members included Oliver Jenkins, Archer Connally, Leo Bassett-Albert, Lewis Milito and Durome Abbey with coach Damien Abbey. (PS)
Under 16 mixed winter season runners-up – Team Christine: Team members were Lachlan Stephenson, Cooper Anderson, Chayse Terrill, Cohen Kleinitz, Austin Brownett, Adrian Barkway and Evan Pompei with coach Christine Anderson. (PS)
Under 16 mixed individual trophy winners: Cody Nairn (junior coordinator award), Cooper Anderson (MVP grand final), Lachlan Carey (runner-up MVP) and Durome Abbey (MVP). (PS)
Under 14 mixed winter season premiers – Team Jason: The team included Flynn Whelan, Hayley Russell, Graham Atherton-Gordon, Samuel McDonnell, Archer Rickman and Cooper Kennedy. (PS)
Under 14 mixed winter season runners-up – Team Evan: They were represented by Harvey Masoud, Isaac Balintong, Archer Peel, Joel Pompei, Patrick Kleinitz, Terrah Dowie and Marshal Jessep. (PS)
Under 14 individual trophy winners: Brodie Darcy (junior coordinator award), Chad Russell (MVP) and Flynn Whelan (MVP grand final). Absent: Rocky Wetere-Katipa was also MVP runner-up. (PS)
