THE Cobras struck at Cessnock Toyota Stadium on Sunday, winning the 17 years boys division of the inaugural Glencore Junior Classic basketball tournament.
Led by Cessnock juniors Hayden Davies and Nick Hurn, with support from several Newcastle Hunters and Maitland Mustangs junior players, the unbeaten Cobras overwhelmed Newcastle club team Tropics 56-34 in the final.
Coached by Cessnock’s Ros Davies, the Cobras had drawn 47-47 when they met Tropics in the preliminary rounds on Saturday.
The 17 years decider was the climax of a successful tournament, made possible through a grant from Glencore’s NSW Junior Sports Development Program.
Earlier on Sunday, in an all-Cessnock 11 years decider, Falcons pipped the Pirates 33-30. Both teams were coached by Cessnock stalwart Cheryl Wills, and had played out a 24-24 draw when they met in the preliminary rounds on Saturday.
Newcastle girls’ team Ballistyx edged out Secret Agents, a Newcastle under-12 representative boys’ team, 28-25 in the 14 years final played on Saturday.
“It was another successful event after our first Wine Country Masters, and it’s been great to see two top-quality basketball tournaments here in Cessnock on back-to-back weekends,” Cessnock Toyota Stadium general manager Brett Keeble said.
“Like the Wine Country Masters, the Glencore Junior Classic was a great start and we want to make this an annual event and attract even more teams and players here to make it even bigger and better next year, and to help promote and develop basketball in Cessnock and the surrounding Wine Country region.
“We’re extremely grateful to Glencore for helping us conduct the tournament, and hope their support continues into the future.”
