Majik, Hello Trouts prevail in Karratha basketball finals

Close games dominated the Karratha Basketball Association grand finals played at the Leisureplex courts throughout Saturday.

Hundreds of supporters cheered the senior teams on in the evening, after a morning of junior matches.

In the men’s A-grade match Mayuga Majik triumphed over Chiefs in a thriller that finished just three points the difference, 27-24.

Majik led for most of the game but Chiefs drew even early in the second half and after a lot of back and forth scoring, including a thrilling late three-pointer from Aaron Chambers, managed to ensure the scores were still equal with a minute left on the clock.

As time ticked down Majik scored a two pointer and from a foul shot to get three points ahead and Chiefs could not quite do enough to get ahead.

In the women’s A-grade division, the experienced Hello Trouts trumped the Burrup Flames by four points in a physical game that also went down to the wire.

Trouts led throughout the first half but Flames narrowed the margin to just a point ton the cusp of half-time. Flames then edged ahead early in the second half, and it took an arm wrestle before Trouts eventually got the upper hand.

The Burrup Flames’ women’s B-grade side had more luck, defeating Sinners Black by three points in a low-scoring grand final.

The men’s B-grade final was won by the Vipers, who sunk Mayuga Majik 25-16 in a tough and physical game.

Junior games were also mostly close contests, with the under-14 boys’ game going into extra time.

Karratha Basketball Association president Cassie Perry said a greater investment in club development this year showed in the results.

“All the games were really close, which means we’re doing something right,” she said.

“There wasn’t a game that was within eight points the difference, and most of them were only three, two or one point apart,”

“I think everyone that was in the finals deserved to be there and did a great job.”

The KBA has more than 1000 members and Perry said membership had continued to grow year on year over the past four years.