Women's coach takes positive stand

Albany Basketball Association women’s coach Craig Tester believes there are plenty of positives to take from the Basketball WA senior country championships, despite his side finishing fourth.

Albany ended the three-day tournament with only two wins in the women’s championship division, missing out on a berth in the grand final, however Tester was still impressed by some elements.

“It was a long weekend, the effort was there,” he said.

“We played good collective basketball, it was just our finishing.

“In most games we had our chances and we just didn’t take them.”

The Raiders defeated Mandurah 14-13 on the opening day and scored their other win against Bunbury 29-24 on Sunday, but rounded out their tournament with four consecutive losses.

Tester said his side battled injuries and a heavy schedule as fatigue began to set in on the final day when they were beaten by eventual champions Karratha, 23-13, and Bunbury, 34-27.

“We dropped two games we shouldn’t have when we were clearly the better side,” he said.

“Mandurah, Bunbury and Geraldton were all kids and they got the legs on us.

“But our girls all had their moments and all played as well as we could have expected, but we are not quite there yet.”

Denmark made the grand final of the women’s division 4 competition but lost a nail-biter 23-21 despite Sarah Pierce claiming the most valuable player award for her 11-point effort in the decider.

In the men’s division 3 ranks, Denmark also made the grand final but went down to Pinjarra 40-17 while Albany’s second men’s side competing in division 2 finished fifth with two wins and four losses.