In just its third year, the Bacchus Marsh Basketball Association continued to produce the goods on court.
The latest piece of silverware added to the club’s fast-filling trophy cabinet is Victorian Junior Basketball League’s division 2 championship for the under-12 girls division.
The Lions squad of Eloise Shirra-Gibb, Logan Hegarty, Jordan Wilson, Hannah Davies, Maddison Djatschenko, Trinity Steele, Hayley Hamilton and Ella Percy blitzed their way through the season, accumulating an ultra-impressive 17-1 win/loss record to secure the top spot.
Basketball association president Peter Matthewman said it was an outstanding effort from the team.
“They had to go through try-outs, which were in early October last year. From that they get selected to become part of our squad.
“This was their first year that they have played in the squad and they made it into the Victorian Junior League 2. That’s the highest we have had a team and to lose only one
game for the year is a great effort,” Matthewman said.
“They really gelled well together and it was just a fantastic effort by all of them. They all worked really hard.”
After winning 15 games during the regular season, the Lions produced their best effort when it really mattered, booking their place in the grand final with a 25-point hammering of Bulleen.
They then travelled to the state basketball centre in Wantirna South to face Diamond Valley in the grand final last month.
After a tough opening, the Bacchus Marsh girls again rose to the challenge, winning 30-27.
This title adds to the four the Lions were able to win last year and Matthewman is confident the recent run is just a warm-up.
“Because we’re a pretty new association, the goal with us was to start with this side and have them go as far as they can,” he said.
“In the next couple of years, we are looking at them playing Victorian championships. We hold them in very high regard.
“They need to be ranked in the top 10 teams in Victoria to do that.”
In other association results, the Lions’ under- 14 girls side also qualified for the VJBL grand final but came up short by a point against Werribee, 24-23.
Bacchus Marsh player Jessica Kivimets was named ‘most valuable player’ in the association’s under-14s grand final.
