SALE’S annual basketball tournament has again been a huge success, bringing about 3500 people into Sale, Maffra and Heyfield for the weekend.
Sale Sonics teams proudly played off in nine of the grand finals, winning four of them.
The final game on Sunday night was a thriller, with a full house staying on to watch the Sonics under 16 boys play Warragul.
The game was tied for a 30-all draw. Ashton Wright scored two points for Sale in overtime, which was answered promptly by Warragul.
Harrison Rowley was fouled in the final minute and went to the line, making one of his two shots to put the Sonics a point ahead.
With the clock stopping on all whistles, spectators were on the edge of their seats, but Sale held on to win 33-32. The under 19 girls grand final was also a thriller.
In an all-Sale affair, the Sale Sonics under 18 girls were pitted against the under 16 girls. The under 16s held onto an early lead to win the match 38-35.
In the under 19 boys, Sale Red defeated Sale White 48-33.
The 16.2 girls won their grand final against Leongatha 30-22. Showcasing the talent in this age group, both under 16 girls teams made it through the weekend undefeated.
The 12.1 boys played a fantastic weekend of basketball, defeating Lake Entrance, Moe and Maffra to play off against Warragul in the grand final. The Sonics were gallant in defeat to Warragul, which won 41-21.
Likewise, the Sale 14.1 boys improved at the weekend to earn a spot in the grand final.
After an early loss to Moe they were able to turn the tables and take a 33-28 semi final win over Moe, before going down to Maffra in the grand final.
The Sale 14.2 girls put up a good fight but lost their grand final to Leongatha, 43-37.
The Sale 14.1 girls made it to the semi-final, but went down to Warragul, 23-16.
Warragul went on to win the grand final against Waverley.
Almost 100 teams travelled from across Victoria for the weekend of competition, with local motels booked out.
Sale Amateur Basketball Association president Ben Lancaster congratulated all the teams for a great weekend and thanked the volunteers who put in an amazing effort to make it happen.
“The reward for us all was simply seeing kids and spectators appreciating the opportunity to play basketball tournaments again,” he said.
There will be more photos from the tournament in Friday’s Gippsland Times.
