Under-12s bring home a grand final win

After one weekend to rest up, the Giants will be back on the road this weekend for another tournament in Benalla.

They will look to build on their performances and continue honing their skills.

Results from Wodonga are as follows.

Under-12 boys

The Giants clinched the Division 2 title in a thrilling 23-22 victory over Myrtleford in the grand final.

The tournament kicked off early on Saturday morning against Bendigo Braves.

Quick scoring from Nate Fitzpatrick set the tone for the Giants.

Solid performances from Jed Fitzmaurice, Jetta Macdonald, and Lennix Leetham gave the Giants a 10-3 lead at half-time.

Despite some defensive fouls, the team fought hard to secure a 26-14 win.

In a scrappy first half against the Swan Hill Flyers, the Giants were up 17-9 at the break thanks to contributions from Fitzpatrick, Fitzmaurice, Cal Leiper, and Jett Boyer.

A stronger second half, highlighted by excellent defence from Macdonald and Jake Woolston, propelling the Giants to a dominant 34-18 victory.

The Giants quickly took control over an unknown Wagga Heat team with early points from Macdonald.

A solid free throw performance by Leiper, Boyer, MacDonald, and Fitzpatrick gave the team a 26-10 half-time lead.

In the second half, Angus Priest’s rebounds and Fitzpatrick’s impressive 22-point performance, supported by Leiper (10 points) and Leetham (6 points), sealed the 50-26 victory.

From the tip-off, the Giants dominated the Shepparton Gators with fast points and tight defence.

A commanding 27-4 lead at half-time made it clear that the Gators had no answer.

The second half saw quick contributions from Leetham and Fitzmaurice, ensuring a 46-19 win and a place in the grand final.

In a tense rematch of the Shepparton grand final, Myrtleford came out strong, but the Giants quickly settled into their rhythm, leading 10-9 at halftime.

The second half was a back-and-forth battle, with both teams tied at 20-20 at the end of the game.

In overtime, the Saints failed to convert on free throws, while Macdonald scored crucial points.

A foul with just 10 seconds left put Leiper at the line, where he scored the game-winning free throw to secure a dramatic 23-22 win.

Nate Fitzpatrick was named the Player of the Tournament award winner for his consistency and tenacity.

Always giving 110 per cent, Fitzpatrick’s leadership and commitment on the court, coupled with his encouragement from the bench, were key to the team's success.

Under-12 girls

The girls had a solid effort at the tournament, demonstrating persistence and teamwork despite not securing a win.

In their first game against Echuca, the Giants faced early pressure with a full-court defence and ultimately lost 22-9.

The second match against Bendigo was their toughest, but the girls continued to compete hard despite a 40-8 loss.

In the third game against Tumut, the girls’ defensive pressure created scoring opportunities, but they couldn’t convert, falling 27-10.

In their final game, the Giants battled Mansfield to a 25-5 loss, showing grit despite difficulties converting chances.

Aysha Bartlett earned the Player of the Tournament award for her consistent performance on both offence and defence.

Under-12 boys development team

The development team showcased great effort throughout the tournament.

In their opening game against the Shepp Gators, the boys took an early lead, with Chase Dunn and Jack Priest’s scoring and strong defence helping secure a 41-27 win.

Against Wangaratta, the boys fought hard but lost 38-10.

The third match against Albury saw Jaxon Beams and Asher Parsons step up, though the team fell 41-18.

The final game against Lakes Entrance was a tough contest, with the boys’ rhythm improving in the second half, but ultimately losing 34-19.

Despite the losses, the boys’ teamwork and determination were evident.

Charlie Druitt was awarded the Player of the Tournament award for his consistent effort throughout the weekend.

Under-14 boys

The Giants showed strong teamwork and determination throughout their four games.

In the opening round, they defeated the Swan Hill Flyers 29-16, with a fast-paced first half and strong rebounding in the second.

However, the boys faced a tough challenge in the second game against Echuca Pirates, falling short 24-28.

Despite working hard with quick passes and drawing fouls, they were unable to capitalise on free throw opportunities.

The third match against the Shepp Gators proved difficult, with the opposition’s strong defence and structured play causing issues for the boys.

Though they struggled with passing and missed scoring chances, they showed resilience in the second half, improving their strategy but ultimately losing 17-56.

In their final game, the Giants faced the Yarra-Mul Lakers and lost 13-44.

The Lakers’ tight defence made it hard for the boys to score, but they continued to work hard and improve their play under the coach’s guidance.

Lucas Braybon was awarded the Player of the Tournament award for his standout performance, strong rebounding, and determination throughout the event.

His tireless efforts were crucial to the team’s performance across all games,

Under-14 girls

The Giants had a successful weekend, showcasing notable improvement throughout the competition.

The highlight of the weekend was their first win of the season, and Sophie Bulmer stepping in to contribute consistently.

In their opening game, the Giants defeated Mansfield 24-15, with Meg Meharry scoring 15 points to lead the charge.

Rory Dean was also key to the victory, creating numerous turnovers and energising her teammates.

The second match against Wangaratta saw the Giants fall short 9-20, but Kilarni MacDonald’s solid defence and Bailee Dunn’s strong offensive drives kept the game competitive.

The third game was a tough one against Myrtleford, where the Giants were overpowered 8-49.

Despite the loss, the team showed resilience, with Maddy Woolston making strong drives to the basket and Sophie Bulmer distributing the ball well to her teammates.

In the final game, the Giants faced Albury in a close contest, but ultimately lost 13-18.

Stella Chadderton’s defensive pressure and five-point contribution were the standout, though Albury pulled ahead in the final moments.

Dean was awarded the Player of the Tournament award for her dedication and pushing herself hard for her team throughout the weekend.

Under-14 boys development team

The development team put in a determined effort, showing growth and resilience throughout the weekend despite facing some tough opponents.

In their opening game against Shepparton, the Giants fought hard, especially in the first half, with Gus Burge and Will Crossley dominating on the boards.

Although Shepparton pulled ahead in the second half, the Giants kept the game close, but eventually fell 21-11.

The second match against Mansfield was a physical challenge, with the Mansfield boys imposing their strength from the start.

Lachlan Jeffrey and Jordie White led the charge, battling through tight defence.

The warm conditions made it tough, and the Giants were ultimately defeated 42-16.

The third game saw the Giants face the tall and talented Bendigo Braves, and despite being outmatched in height, the team showed grit.

Jimmy O’Connor and Brax Leetham worked hard to create turnovers, but the Braves proved too strong, winning 66-17.

In their final game against Echuca, the Giants continued to fight hard, particularly on defence.

While the shots didn’t fall, the team’s perseverance was evident as they battled until the end, losing 41-17.

A special thanks go to coaches Chelsea and Brendan, who stepped up to guide the team throughout the weekend.

The Player of the Tournament award was presented to Braxton Leetham for his determination and growth.

Leetham consistently took on feedback and demonstrated his commitment to the team, always putting his body on the line and improving his game.

Under-16 boys

The boys had a strong showing at the tournament, displaying strong teamwork and individual performances throughout their four games.

The Giants cruised to a 44-18 win over Echuca Pirates, with Logan Elphick’s early three-pointer setting the tone, followed by Fred Everett’s jumper.

Max Burge and Aansh Patel pushed the pace, while Archer Moodie, Ollie Murray, and Ari Strongman’s defence shut down the Pirates.

Despite a strong effort in game two, the Giants fell short 45-39 to Mansfield.

Burge led in rebounds and fast breaks, but the team couldn’t overcome Mansfield’s late push.

The Giants bounced back with a 35-29 win over Corryong.

Murray controlled the tempo, and Patel’s offence and defence kept the lead, while Strongman’s drives were key.

The Giants lost 44-30 to Tatura despite strong efforts from Stu Benger and Lincoln Meharry.

Elphick led the scoring late, but the team couldn’t seal the win.

Burge was named Player of the Tournament for his exceptional all-around play.

His versatility, leadership, and sportsmanship were on display throughout, making him a key asset for the team.

His ability to shift seamlessly between positions and lead the team by example earned him this well-deserved recognition.

Under-16 girls

The girls had a strong showing, finishing second in their pool over the weekend.

They began with a dominant 18-0 lead over Mansfield, with Bella Hillier top-scoring and Kelsey Clark leading defensively.

The team continued their form in the second game, defeating Albury 41-8, with standout performances from Ava Braybon, Jorja Woolston, and Nina Glowrey.

Despite a slow start against Yarra-Mul, the Giants fought back, but narrowly lost 24-21.

They finished with a solid 30-10 win over Wangaratta, led by Lilly Boyer’s offensive play and Braybon’s strong presence under the basket.

Braybon was awarded the Player of the Tournament award for her exceptional defensive effort.

Under-18 boys

The u18 boys showed resilience and teamwork at the Wodonga tournament, delivering strong performances despite a mixed record.

Facing a tough opponent in Tatura in game one, the boys struggled to match their opponent’s three-point shooting, going down 26-59.

Though the loss was challenging, the effort set the tone for the rest of the day.

The boys bounced back in the second game, dominating from the start.

Henry Robinson led offensively, while Baxter Cowley, Chase Bartlett, and Brody Wills added depth.

Spencer Cowley and Dexter Hardman were crucial defensively, and the team’s intensity secured a decisive 57-20 victory over Mansfield.

A nail-biting game three saw the boys edge out Shepparton 32-30 in the final moments.

Josh Todd’s clutch free throws sealed the win, with strong contributions from Robinson and tough defence in the closing seconds, showcasing the team’s resilience.

The final game against Myrtleford ended in a dramatic tie.

With the team down by two points in the closing moments, Brody Wills hit a game-tying three-pointer as time expired, demonstrating composure under pressure.

Hardman and Bartlett's defensive work led to the key turnover.

Wills earned the Player of the Tournament award for his standout performances.

Embracing a new role, he contributed offensively and defensively in every game.

His composure and leadership, particularly his game-tying three-pointer in the final moments, made him a vital asset to the team’s success.

Under-18 girls

The girls demonstrated great resilience and determination at the tournament, delivering strong performances across all four rounds.

In a hard-fought opening match, the girls battled hard but were ultimately outplayed by Wagga going down 21-40.

The girls bounced back in round two with a commanding win over Lakes Entrance, 33-17.

Ava Richards led the way with 11 points, supported by Aysha Mitsch (9) and Ruby Cowley (6).

The team’s disciplined play, with minimal fouls, was key to the victory.

Bendigo proved too strong in the round three match-up, with the Giants going down 46-19.

Shontai O’Callaghan stood out with eight points, and the team’s defensive pressure was evident throughout the game.

The girls finished the tournament on a high note, securing an impressive win over Yarra Mul, 46-38.

Again, Richards was dominant, scoring 21 points, while Mitsch and Cowley added 10 and nine, respectively.

The team’s energy and execution led to a well-deserved victory.

Ava Richards’ consistent standout performances earned her the Player of the Tournament award, recognising her exceptional efforts across all games.