ELTHAM JUNIOR BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT 2008

CRAIGIEBURN EAGLES UNDER 14 GIRLS 3 TEAM

UNDER 14 GIRLS C DIVISION 3

First game was at 8.45am Saturday morning at Mill Park, Everybody a bit nervous, coach worried players would be rusty and fumbling the ball. To the coaches amazement the girls played really well and done everything the coach had asked of them and won the game (Craigieburn 3 21 def Warrandyte 3 13). The next game was at Mill Park at 2.00pm and the stadium was extremely hot but the girls just kept going and played a great game and won this game (Craigieburn 3 15 def Eltham 6 2). Then we were off to Keilor for a 7.00pm game, it was still very hot and everyone was buggered and hot but yet again the girls kept going played great defence and also won the game (Craigieburn 3 27 def Wallan 2 13)

We then had a early start Sunday morning with a 9.30am game at Darebin, the girls played really well as a team, played grouse defence and won the game easily (Craigieburn 3 26 def Doncaster 2 2). We then made our way to Templestowe to play Collingwood at 3.30pm which I knew would not be a easy game because I had seen them play earlier in the day, It wasn’t as hot and was a very good court, The girls lost this game (Collingwood 23 def Craigieburn 3 12) But praise to the girls they never gave up, we probably had more of the ball but our shots wouldn’t go in. By this time the players and the coach were all buggered we made our way to McDonalds for a break then off to Diamond Valley at 6.45pm to play Hawthorn 4. It was a very close game but due to losing the previous game the girls were determined to play hard and bounce back. Which they did (Craigieburn 3 25 def Hawthorn 4 24) Coach very stressed out at this game but very proud of how the girls played.

This meant we had played 6 games with 5 wins and 1 loss, This was an excellent effort by the girls and put us into the semi-final on Monday.

Semi final Monday at 2.00pm at Diamond Valley against Wallan 2, First 2 points scored was by Craigieburn into the Wallan basket which gave them a head start, but the girls played very smart and tough and Wallan played very ruff, the girls were bumped and knocked around the whole game but ignored that and kept playing the game of Basketball to win 22 - 6 and to put us into the Grand Final.

Monday 8.00pm Grand Final against Warrandyte 3. As a coach I was very proud of how the girls had played so far in the Tournament, They did everything that was asked of them and kept their heads up all the way. I told them to just go out there and keep doing what you have been doing and enjoy the game. We had lots of supporters there from the Eagles and this was great, every one nervous especially the Coach. The Girls went out and played great defence and good teamwork in offence, they supported each other and won the game 22 – 12. A big thank you to all players, my team manager and all the supporters that came to cheer us on, it was a great turnout.

Throughout the whole tournament each and every player played to their best ability, always put in 100% and kept their heads up the whole time, as a coach I could not have asked for more and really believed they deserved to win the Grand Final. Girls you did a great job and you made the coach very proud. A Big thank you to all the players for their efforts.

Catelyn Baker, Natalie Liang, Amy Fandrich, Regan Earp, Nicola Stewart, Jemma Tedeschi, Claire Nicholson, Shannyn Brown, Teagen Semmens.

It was a great and enjoyable tournament, the support was wonderful and Winning the Grand Final Topped it all off.

IT WAS AWESOME!!

Thanks Maria Wilson Coach U/14 girls 3 team

GO EAGLES!!!!!!!!!!!!!