Local outfit The Behoys are savouring a breakthrough victory at the Clippers Australia Day Carnival.
The team members have largely “stuck together” since they were juniors at Maroochydore Clippers, and they snapped a run of three grand final losses with their win on Monday.
“It’s so good, we’re very happy,” guard Anthony Kleine said.
“We’re a tight group of mates and you can see the difference between us and the other teams (because of it).”
The Behoys defeated Pride Performance 72-54 in the men’s A-grade decider, while the Gin n Tropic beat Coastal Cruisers 51-41 in the women’s A-grade grand final.
“We’ve been playing together for years and we’ve made plenty of grand finals (at different events) but this is the first one we’ve won,” Kleine said.
They were runners-up at the Clippers carnival in 2020 and went into the 2021 tournament as likely favourites.
They didn’t disappoint, winning six straight games.
Their team was packed with quality, including NBL1 North players Jamaal Robateau and Nelson Kahler.
Kleine said Kahler “had an awesome tournament’ while Robateau was a key player for them during this year’s carnival, after missing the 2020 edition through injury.
“He made a huge difference with his scoring and also defensively. He’s our leader on court,” he said.
50th edition beckons
Maroochydore Clippers operations manager and former Australian representative Rachael McCully said the carnival was highly successful, with almost 50 teams contesting five divisions.
“The response (from teams) was amazing,” she said, with teams travelling from Sydney and Townsville.
The event was run with COVID-19 health protocols in place.
Organisers expect next year’s tournament will be one of their best.
“We’re hoping to build on this year and have a bigger and better tournament for our 50th year of the Clippers Australia Day Carnival,” McCully said.
It’s believed the event started at the outdoor courts at Cotton Tree and moved to the Maroochydore Basketball Stadium after it was built in 1984.
Grand final results
A-GRADE
Men: The Behoys 72 Pride Performance 54
Women: Gin n Tropics 51 Coastal Cruisers 41
B-GRADE
Men: BRTsquitos 34 Frogs 21
Women: Blazers 40 Hoop Hussies 26
C-GRADE
Men: Backyard Buckets 58 Boomers 38
