Ballers win opening tournament

St Albans Wolves got the junior basketball season up and running this week with a 3x3 tournament at Oaklands College.

While the under-16 boys had a weekend of three practices under new coach Adam Pearce, the under-16 girls and some invited guests played a three-hour tournament on Sunday afternoon.

Twenty-eight games of the shortened version of the sport culminated in the Ballers, who consisted of Joanna Akpan, Dalma Szigeti and Caitlin Ryan defeated the Team With No Name - Alicia Moss, Jemima Uzoka, Neeve Mulrooney and a guest appearance from Lila Birtwisle 5-3 in the final.

The under-16 girls completed a clean sweep of the top four positions as "The Gentleman" Ella Brown, Stella Ekblad-Piscitella and Mila Skipic-Piscitella beat Team David - Lily Harkness, Grace Clark and Tiff Tyson to take bronze.

The fifth place game saw the under-14 boys Sinners beat their team-mates Saints while the under-14 Girls All-Stars won the seven place game against guests Braintree Blues Devils.

The under-16s continue their pre-season campaign on Sunday when Wolves stage two pre-season tournaments at Oaklands, with sides from Brentwood, Richmond, Winchester, Sevenoaks and Gillingham all visiting in what should be an excellent day of basketball.