A total of 70 basketball teams played in the city across the weekend during another successful Ballarat Senior Tournament.
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At the top end of competition, the Hotondo Ballarat Miners had a great workout under new coach Brendan Joyce.
The Miners dominated the Men's Premier final from the outset against Melton Thoroughbreds, winning by 17 points as the bench gained some valuable minutes.
Joyce is now in his second stint as coach of the Miners. He earned legendary status in Ballarat when he led the side – then playing in the Continental Basketball Association – to the 1995 and 1996 ABA national championships in a three-year stay at the Minerdome.
He recommitted to the club in late 2018.
The Youth League Miners paid the price for two close losses early in the weekend and missed the final in A Grade Men, while the Youth League Rush reached the decider but fell at the last hurdle to a more experienced Melbourne University side. In the end, Melbourne University took out the final 55-37.
Melton had a great weekend with its top teams making the Premier and A Grade Men's finals.
Sentimental favourite Bashed Crabs - playing a 19th consecutive season in the tournament - won a close grand final against State Bank in the Men's Masters division. And in a similar vein, TTTHF took home one of the Social Men's sections.
In the Women's Social grade, both sections were tight. Veteran side Myths and Legends Blue won by a solitary point, while HPD claimed another title in the other section.
The 51st annual tournament was held across Saturday, Sunday and Monday.
While all teams like to hit the showcourt at the Minerdome, many players expressed their desire to return in 2020 to compete on the new courts at the Ballarat Sports and Events Centre.
Organisers believe there is the potential for this venue to attract more teams from across Victoria.