On the 2nd October 2010 at the AIS Stadium in Canberra the Australian under 14 boys National Basketball Championships were decided over 6 action packed days. The Geelong Cats team won the bronze to end their season as the third ranked team in the country behind Hills Hornets from Sydney (Silver) and the Melbourne Tigers (Gold).

In all, 24 teams from Australia competed where the competition was tough, intense and highly skillful. Our own South Geelong Kings brothers Jacob and Thomas Pupavac played in the bronze medal winning team for Geelong and enjoyed the experience of a lifetime as they stormed home in their final game beating the Sturt Sabres from Adelaide 57 - 27.

The Geelong team only lost a single game to the Hills Hornets in the Preliminary Final from the 8 games the team played during the week. If not for a short lapse in concentration where in 1.30 minutes before three quarter time the team allowed Hills 10 easy points it may have been a totally different story. Nonetheless the boys never looked like letting go of the bronze and deserved their place among the top three under 14 boy's teams in Australia. 

As one of the top age players Jacob scored 10 points in the bronze medal game and was the team's leading scorer for the tournament with 90 points at an average of 11.3 and a highest score of 20 points in one game. It was his strong defense however that was a stand out as he continually made the difference every time he took the court, even drawing praise from tournament officials for his poise and determination against consistently heavy body checking from opposition teams. No opposition player could dominate the 198cm giant who stood head and shoulders above the pack; he was the player most needed on the court and the one who made his team mates walk taller in his presence.

Thomas scored 8 points in the tournament with limited court time as a bottom age player, however his effort overall was an inspiration to his team and he showed glimpses of what is in store next season when he will play as a top age under 14 boy. He set the bench alight in his fourth game when he stepped up and nailed a couple of tough jump shots in heavy traffic to give his team momentum and leave no doubt as to his potential and skill at both ends of the court.

Congratulations to the team and our two Kings boys who now turn their sights onto representative try-outs and of course the Victorian Country Club Championships in Ballarat where they will be playing for their original home club, the Kings!

The club also wishes Jacob good luck in two weeks time when he attends the Gold Nugget Camp to be held in Bendigo where the Country Victorian team selections for Port Macquarie will be made.

Check out the official game wrap up here: Basketball Australia web site