Gallery | Gators make late strike in Greater Shepparton Basketball Association annual junior tournament
Over the course of Saturday and Sunday, junior basketballers from across regional Victoria embarked to Shepparton to compete in the annual junior basketball tournament run by Greater Shepparton Basketball Association.
It was a mammoth weekend event, with 18 divisions ranging from age groups under-10 to under-18, girls and boys, and 138 teams competing.
In the under-16 girls division two, it was a sweet ending to a tough tournament for the Gators.
The Gators had lost their opening three of four matches, the latter of which in heartbreaking circumstances after leading with a minute to play.
However, the team’s improvement over the course of the weekend saw Shepparton strike a stunning upset to Myrtleford Saints, which were poised to finish in the top two and earn qualification to the grand final.
The Gators trailed by six at half-time, but Savina Bace and co flicked the intensity up a notch in the second half, scoring 23 points – the team’s highest scoring half all tournament, outscoring two of its previous full time results at that – 10 points of which were scored by a tenacious Bace.
With an 8-1 run to start the second half, Shepparton stole the lead and ultimately the win from Myrtleford to finish the tournament on the highest of notes, winning 31-24.
News photographer Megan Fisher captured the under-16 girls’ win through the lens on Sunday.