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The winners of twelve Smarter than Smoking School Slam Series across the state competed yesterday in the 2017 Champions Cup. Twenty eight teams across four categories competed to take out the title of Champion School at Bendat Basketball Centre in Floreat.

St Emilies Catholic Primary School from Canning Vale took out the All Star Boys Championship beating Ashdale Primary School from Darch in the grand final by 15 points. It was an exciting game that was within 4 points until St Emilies’ consistent scoring blew out in the last minutes. Both teams encountered each other in the pool rounds where Ashdale won by one point, so already had a rivalry. The teams entered the semi finals placed first and second where the cross over saw St Emilies playing East Fremantle Primary School and Ashdale played Parkfield Primary School.

Across the board the All Star Boys competition was very competitive with numerous participants already playing WABL at their respective clubs.

In the All Star Girls category, it was Georgiana Molloy Anglican School from Busselton who took out the Championship by 11 points to Davallia Primary School from Duncraig. Georgiana Molloy Anglican School were the dominate forces across the entire day finishing undefeated in the pool rounds with the highest percentage. The girls from Busselton benefited by qualifying as grade fives in last years Champions Cup and used this experience to win this year. The Davallia girls put up a strong fight with some outstanding individual skills from some of their players. Both teams have girls who will be representing WA at the 2018 Southern Cross Challenge.

Across the Future Star divisions there many very close games which only one game margin exceeding double figures. In the Future Star boys North Woodvale Primary School from North Woodvale took out the Championship over Harrisdale Primary School. In the Future Star girls competition, Harrisdale Primary School took out the Championship beating Bannister Creek Primary School in the final.

The expansion of the School Slam Series saw School Slam Series run in Karratha, Gerladton and Eaton. This year The Champions of the Eaton and Gerladton Series were lucky enough to travel down to compete and provide competitive against their metropolitan counterparts. Dongara District High School represented in both the All Star Boys and All Star Girls placing 5^th in their pools. Parkfield Primary School and Georginana Molloy Anglican School qualified from the Eaton Series and placed 3^rd overall and 1^st overall respectively.

Basketball WA’s Participation and Events Officer Georgia Clarke says ‘It was so great to see such a large representation from the Country towns and Basketball WA are excited to continue expanding the Series to provide more opportunities for our regional players in 2018’.

‘Overall the Champions Cup was a major success being one of our most competitive and largely participated in Cups since 2008. Basketball WA would like to thank our continued sponsor Healthway and Smarter than Smoking as well as out delivery partners, School Sport WA and SEDA. Without their support BWA would not be able to provide this experience to future basketball stars in our state’. Georgia said.

Basketball WA will be launching 2018 School Slam Series dates in the coming weeks so interested schools can head to http://schools.basketballwa.asn.au to find out more.