Well done to the U16 Waverley Falcons boys on their performance in the National Junior Classic last weekend.  A top 10 finish at their first tilt in a national competition is a solid effort, and an achievement to be proud of.

After a slow start to the tournament in Game 1, 43-73 against a rampant Keilor (Vic) , the U16 boys found their feet and guts out a solid win against Norwood (SA) 64-56.
Game 3 turned out to be a fierce defensive battle. With the team suffering from injuries, sustained in both the lead up and during games 1 & 2, the boys made no excuses and fought admirably. They were desperately unlucky not to qualify to play off in the final 8, which was the team's goal for the tournament. The opposition proved too strong and the U16 Falcons missed out by 2-points against eventual runners up Manly (NSW) 32-34 (whose team incidentally comprised of 4 NSW Metro State representatives).

Having missed out on the Final 8, the team then set themselves the new goal of finishing as high as possible in the second half of the tournament - 9th

Despite further injuries, the team were very professional in accounting for Southern Tigers (SA) 57-43, and then again against Basketball ACT, 47-42, in what was a high quality game.
Further injuries sustained in those games left the U16 boys playing personnel depleted. In what was a very high paced final game the injury depleted U16s Falcons now appeared to be out of gas also in trying to arrest the Sturt Sabres (SA) onslaught eventually succumbing 32-64 and finishing 10th overall.

The team has show great progress and development and continues to move forward and upwards. It is certainly a massive step forward from where the team was this time last year, and a fair result for all their hard work and preparation. So Congratulations on their results.

Special mention to Nugget, Dwyane and Brandon for their great support in the lead up, throughout the Classic. The team wouldn't have performed as well without their assistance at practices. If you are brave enough to turn up to Waverley at 7:30am on Sunday Mornings you'll see this committed group of young men working hard and preparing to fulfil their latest goals... Something which I am proud to be a part of. They are all too familiar with the fact that only hard work can lead to success, and that hard work is a matter of choice, not luck.