CAIRNS basketballers experienced the agony and ecstasy of finals competition as under-16 State Classics competition drew to a close in Cairns and Townsville yesterday.

It was the Cairns Dolphins under-16 girls who savoured the ecstasy of victory, thumping South West Metro 76-41 in the division one final in Townsville to complete an unbeaten sweep of the championship.

A gallant Cairns Marlins under-16 division one boys outfit could not emulate the girls’ feat, fighting hard in yesterday’s decider before going down 81-71 to Brisbane Capitals at the Bendigo Bank Basketball Centre.

The Dolphins’ efforts were rewarded with six players – Connie Finlay, Bryannii Perks, Kayla Moke, Teyla Evans, Shanieka Ross and Mercedes Hudson – being selected in the northern state squad.

Dolphins coach Cathy Smith said her remaining players – Libby Cook-Black, Serina Falvo, Mhari Whittaker and Brianna Kerwick – were also outstanding in a strong all-round team performance.

"The girls went out and played every game well and the good thing was they played every game right to the end," she said. "We wanted to dominate."

Smith said the team was essentially the same as the one which had also captured under-12 and under-14 state titles, the under-16 triumph completing an extraordinary hat-trick and validating the Dolphins development program in the process. She said Cook-Black and Finlay had led another outstanding team performance in yesterday’s decider.

Marlins coach Ann Remedio, Smith’s sister, also praised her charges’ efforts in a hard-fought final in Cairns.

"It was very close for the first three-quarters but it was just that last quarter where we let a few things slip and made some wrong decisions," she said.

"But they put in a tremendous effort and for us to be in the final was a great achievement."

Marlins players Brendan Kruger, Jordan Baumgartner, Michael Demertze, Jason Osborne and Luke Ellwood were all named in the northern state squad after the final.

Demertze led the scoring for the Marlins in yesterday’s decider with a personal haul of 22 points with Osborne scoring 14 and Ellwood 13.

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