Horsham's under-18 boys delighted home crowds with a dominant run to the title at the Horsham Junior Basketball Classic at the weekend.
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The Hornets were undefeated across three pool games and two finals, winning the tournament's final match against Mildura Heat Storer 53-25.
After finishing runners-up at their previous tournament in Warrnambool, team coach Jon Fitzgerald said the side had kept on improving.
"Every time we hit the court we are getting better and better," Fitzgerald said.
"At Warrnambool, we went down to a very strong Mount Gambier team, and the boys learnt a lot from that.
"There's a game-style we want to play, and every time we get on court we're getting better at it. It is really fantastic to see.
"It was a really good effort, and I'm really proud of them."
Fitzgerald said it was particularly special to win their home tournament.
"We keep joking that this is our house, we need to win our home tournament," Fitzgerald said.
"Even in all my years of playing and coaching, I don't think I've ever won the Horsham tournament, so it is pretty special to win the home one in front of the home crowd."
State representative Austin McKenzie, senior Hornet Sam Breuer, Brody Pope and Harley Pope were four of the team's stand-out individuals across the weekend.
Breuer averaged 14 points per game and was awarded the competition's Most Valuable Player award for his work across the two days.
While the side was dominant in the semi-final and final, the Hornets' toughest test came in their final two pool games against Mildura Heat Townsend and Terang, winning by just 12 and six points respectively.
Fitzgerald said the side's mental toughness showed in each contest.
Fitzgerald was optimistic about the potential of the talented young side.
"This is one of those once in a generation teams we like to say," Fitzgerald said.
"My challenge is to get the most out of them.
"They are a very well drilled, very fit team. A lot of them are playing for the senior Hornets as well, so they are hitting the court a lot and getting a lot of game time in.
"Our goal is to keep pushing toward the state championships. This is just another big tick along the way."
Notable results from all of the other competing Horsham teams at the Junior Classic will be in Wednesday's edition of the Wimmera Mail-Times.
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