This week our talented Year 7/8 Basketball teams made the journey to Adelaide to compete in the State Finals — and what an inspiring display of skill, grit and team spirit it was!

Our Year 7/8 Girls team competed strongly in Division 2, notching up two impressive wins over Bordertown High School and Heathfield High School, and narrowly going down in two close contests against Nuriootpa and Unity College. Finishing 4th overall marks our best result at Year 7/8 level in some time — but beyond the scoreboard, it was the girls’ relentless defence, energy and determination that made the biggest impact. Their ability to rattle more experienced opponents and stay competitive in every game points to a bright future for our girls’ basketball program.

In Division 1, our Year 7/8 Boys team took on some of the largest schools in the state — a huge achievement for our tight-knit Encounter community. After a few early nerves, the boys found their rhythm and rose to the challenge, even showcasing their skills in front of Aussie Boomer and Adelaide 36ers star Dejan Vasiljevic! They fought hard through tough games against Nazareth, Trinity and Sacred Heart, finishing with a thrilling 1-point battle against Henley High in their final crossover game. Placing 8th in the State is an outstanding result and one they should be incredibly proud of!

Coaches Rachel Grant and Troy Wegener reflected on the pride they feel for these teams — not just for the results, but for the strong culture, belief and style of play that has developed this year. As they put it, these young athletes are driven by a belief that they are capable of even more.

There’s no doubt — the future is looking very bright for Encounter Basketball!