Term 4 2018 marked the launch of the inaugural Summer Junior Season at Noosa Basketball, and it was one of the largest and most competitive seasons to date.
Here is the U16/U18's Finals Day review.
Under 16
Grand Final - NW Warriors Grey v Southern Sabres Black
It was a Summer Season which saw a huge 12 team format stacked with talent over the two term competition.
Even though Southern Sabres Black rounded out as the last seed of the playoff spots, their 4 quarter team effort through the playoffs saw them charge home to win the championship.
After a slow start to the match the week prior, it took just 14 seconds for the Sabres to get on the board off the back of a Liam Switzer layup.
At quarter time, the scores read 16-8 for the Sabres, with Lucas Membrey and Liam Switzer combining for 12 of their total.
Defence must have been the key talking point by Coach Boyce for the boys at quarter time, seeing that the Warriors' hustle defence left Southern Sabres Black scoreless for 5 straight minutes in the second, going on a 13-0 run of their own to lead the game for the first time with a few minutes left. A long 3 pointer by Warriors guard Aden McGuigan left his team with their nose in front (three points) heading into the main break.
As much as 12 points down minutes into the 4th quarter, it was a game of opportunities for NW Warriors Grey. Already on a 9 point run, the Warriors had some open layup opportunities which would have edged them even closer to snatch the win.
In the end, it was the 4 quarter team effort and a stellar performance of 26 points by their big man Liam Switzer (Finals MVP) which named them Champions of the 18/19 U16 Summer Season.
Bailey Boyce led the NW Warriors on offence with 21 points, with big man Samuel Slater contributing 10 points.
3/4 Playoff - Southern Sabres Gold v Eastern Eagles Blue
Southern Sabres Gold only lost two games in their impressive Summer Season campaign, both of them to eventual champions Southern Sabres Black.
Missing their scoring leader in the playoffs Aiden Stafford-Johns, Sabres Gold were out for revenge against a talented Eastern Eagles Blue outfit, coached by Cyclones SBL recruit Chris Whitson.
The Sabres never lost their lead through the whole 40 minutes, where three of their players scored in double digits (Bailey Jobson 15 points, Jack Woodward 12 points, Ezra Coyle 10 points) lead them to a 9 point win to finish 3rd place.
The Eagles saw a more balance scoresheet, although Kyle Baynham lead all scorers with a season high 11 points.
U16 Summer Season 18/19
Finals MVP
Liam Switzer - Southern Sabres Black (26 Points)
Overall MVP
Liam Switzer - Southern Sabres Black (20.7 ppg)
Most Threes
Jack Murray - Central Saints White (17 3pm)
Under 18
Grand Final - Central Saints White v Southern Sabres
The final match of the night was also arguably the most intense, with ladder leaders Central Saints White facing off against the young gun Southern Sabres in a heated battle for the U18 championship.
The Saints had a point to prove in their final match-up, after going down by a comfortable 13 points to the Sabres in their last meeting.
Finals MVP Max Leary led the way for the Sabres in the first quarter providing 8 much needed points of their 12 to tie it up at the first break.
It was a far more balanced attack moving into the second quarter for both teams, although Sabre's inside presence of Harrison Stanley and Matt Garma on the boards helped them push to a 6 point lead a half-time.
It took half-way through the 3rd for the Saints to spring to life, going on a 15-4 run in the last 5 minutes to edge the game back in their favour (36-29)
Both teams provided their highest quality of basketball for the season in the last quarter, neck-and-neck the whole way through the last 10 minutes, with the margin never surpassing 4 points.
20 points and a clutch 3 pointer down the stretch from league-leader Connor Prout saw the game come within a point in the dying stages, but a composed Southern Sabre outfit came away as Champions, winning a tight battle 53-51.
Other notable performances included Saint Ewan Mcdonald (15 points), and Sabre Tallis Buntain (12 points)
U18 Summer Season 18/19
Finals MVP
Max Leary - Southern Sabres (20 Points)
Overall MVP
Connor Prout - Central Saints White (22.25 ppg)
Most Threes
Angus Grey - Central Saints Gold (20 3pm)
