HORSHAM Hornets’ under-14 girls and boys teams will head to Shepparton for the junior state championships after dominating at the qualifying tournament in Ballarat on Saturday.
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The two young teams needed to finish in the top two of their pool to make the championships in April.
Both completed a clean-sweep of their three games, with most of the wins decided by comfortable margins.
The Hornets boys started with a 68-22 smashing against Colac.
This was followed by an even more impressive 67-12 win against Ararat.
Their tournament then finished off with another big win, this time a 74-25 thumping against Terang.
The girls side also had some big wins, however their final game saw them just pip Warrnambool by a narrow three points to finish on top of their section.
The final 32-29 win saw the Hornets hang on as they defeated their rivals for the second time.
It was the third time the two teams have met, with the Hornets now holding a 2-1 winning record.
Their success against Warrnambool came after their first game of the tournament saw the Hornets defeat Corio Bay 44-16.
They then dispatched Stawell 44-10 in game two before going on to win the third game and remain undefeated at the tournament in Ballarat.
Both teams will have another hit-out at the Colac junior tournament in March, before taking on Victoria’s best at the state championships in April.
The two sides are not the only Horsham teams to have reached the state championships either.
Three teams will head to the under-16 and 18 championship from March 16 to 18 on the Labor Day long weekend at Bendigo.
The under-18 boys and under-16 boys and girls will all be competing in their respective divisions.
Meanwhile the first weekend after Easter from April 5 to 6 will see the under-12 boys and girls teams competing. Horsham Amateur Basketball Association junior director Tony Sleep said there was a lot of support for the successful junior teams.
“We are very pleased with where all our sides are at,” he said, “it is great to have all the teams competing at the state championships.”
Sleep said some of the under-14’s seconds players were also going to be given the chance to play in the one’s side and further develop their skills at the championships.
“On the back of the success of the Lady Hornets and Hornets men, the kids are engaged,” he said.
