The Deniliquin Giants’ under-12 and under-14 teams experienced mixed results in their final tournament of the season, held in Wodonga.
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The Giants celebrated the end of season with their presentation night on Friday, March 20, and will hold their AGM at the Deniliquin Stadium on Wednesday, March 25 from 6pm.
Under-12 girls
The U12 girls opened their campaign in impressive fashion with a strong 24-8 victory over the Shepparton Gators, showcasing excellent ball movement and teamwork.
They followed up with a tightly contested match against a well-drilled Bendigo side.
Despite struggling to break through Bendigo’s defensive pressure, the Giants remained competitive, going down narrowly 16-11.
Game three saw the girls take on a powerful Wallan Panthers outfit.
Wallan’s defensive intensity made scoring opportunities hard to come by, and while the Giants battled hard throughout, they fell 23-13. Determined to finish on a high, the girls responded with a convincing 25-10 win over the Echuca Pirates.
Ava Raper was awarded the tournament award for her outstanding growth and consistency throughout both the season and the Wodonga tournament.
Under-12 boys
The U12 boys began strongly in their pursuit of a third grand final appearance, defeating the Bendigo Braves 50-26 in their opening game.
They faced a tougher challenge in game two against Wallan Panthers, trailing by just three points at half-time.
Following a composed message from the coach to settle, attack the basket, and maintain strong ball movement and rebounding, the boys stayed in the contest.
Despite a late surge to level the scores, they went down narrowly, 44-39.
It was their first loss since the grand final in Wangaratta.
The boys bounced back impressively, recording wins over the Mansfield Eagles (45-38) and Myrtleford Saints (49-17) to finish their tournament strongly.
Asher Parsons received the tournament award for his relentless work rate, defensive pressure, and selfless ball movement.
U12 boys development team
The boys also enjoyed their most competitive tournament of the season.
Although they didn’t register a win, their growth and improvement were clear.
They opened against a strong Canberra side and battled hard despite the loss.
Their second game proved a highlight, fighting back from a slow start to secure a hard-earned 17-all draw in a thrilling finish.
In game three, the boys faced a strong Bendigo team.
While they started well, Bendigo proved too dominant, winning 66-12.
A standout moment came with Mason Elphick knocking down an impressive three-point shot, much to the delight of teammates and supporters.
The final game saw the boys give maximum effort, remaining in contention until the final stages before Corryong pulled away late to win 29-17.
Mason was awarded the tournament award for his consistency throughout the event.
Under-14 boys black
The ‘black’ team entered the tournament eager to finish strongly after going undefeated in their previous two tournaments, narrowly missing grand final appearances due to percentage.
A first-round bye meant a delayed start, and they faced an unknown Canberra side in their opening match.
Canberra came out firing, gaining the upper hand early.
Despite a late surge as the Giants settled into the contest, they fell just short in a tight four-point loss.
Game two against Wodonga proved equally challenging, with a fast-paced, physical contest that saw the lead change hands multiple times. In the end, Wodonga edged ahead to claim a five-point victory.
Sunday morning brought a must-win clash against the Wang Warriors.
After a strong message from the coaches, the Giants responded with intensity, securing a nail-biting two-point win.
While a grand final berth was no longer possible, the final match against Myrtleford still carried significance.
With sideline support from Canberra, the Giants delivered one of their best performances of the tournament, finishing their campaign on a high with an impressive eight-point win.
Player of the tournament honours went to Cal Leiper, who played with outstanding confidence, read the game superbly, and created numerous scoring opportunities for his teammates.
U14 Girls Black
The girls also capped off their season in impressive fashion, showcasing resilience and teamwork across a series of competitive games.
They opened against Yarra-Mul with a dominant performance, maintaining intensity for the full 40 minutes to secure a convincing 20-point win.
A slower start against Bendigo proved costly, with missed opportunities allowing Bendigo to capitalise and take a 15-9 victory.
They bounced back with a thrilling three-point win over Echuca Pirates, demonstrating how pressure and consistency can deliver results.
In their final game against Bayaderra, strong defensive pressure proved the difference as the Giants secured a solid seven-point win to close out their season.
The tournament award went to Indi Conallin, whose impact belied her size.
Dominating through the middle, Indi applied relentless defensive pressure, supported her teammates tirelessly, and used her exceptional speed to transition quickly between attack and defence.
U14 Boys Development
The development team delivered a series of strong performances.
They opened with a 32-27 win over the Shepparton Gators, setting the tone early with a dominant first half.
The momentum continued against Mansfield Eagles, with the Giants securing a 25-18 victory.
In game three, the Giants faced a tough Corryong Phoenix side, going down 34-25.
Despite the loss, the team showed resilience, lifting their intensity in the second half.
The final match against Bendigo Braves proved the toughest challenge, with the Giants falling 56-10.
Despite the scoreline, the team continued to compete strongly.
Tournament award honours went to Chris Plant, who delivered an outstanding tournament performance.
His scoring accuracy, defensive pressure, and consistent effort across all four games made him a deserving recipient.
U14 Girls Development team
The girls displayed resilience and teamwork throughout a challenging Wodonga tournament, taking on strong opposition across four games.
They opened against Shepparton Gators in a tightly contested match, with strong defence from both sides keeping scores low early.
Despite a determined second-half the Giants fell to a 15-point loss.
Game two against Mansfield followed a similar pattern, with both teams battling hard.
Mansfield gained the early advantage and maintained control to secure an 11-point win
Facing eventual finalists Bendigo Braves Yellow in game three, the girls showed great defensive effort and spirit despite the tough matchup.
In their final game against Canberra, the Giants started well but struggled to maintain momentum, going down 36-8.
Sophie Bulmer was named player of the tournament for her outstanding all-round efforts, working tirelessly in rebounds, creating scoring opportunities, and maintaining a positive presence throughout the weekend.