Tatura Titans nearly pull off interstate basketball miracle

By Marcus Beeck

Apr 30, 2025

Tatura Titans made an impressive underdog run in Adelaide in April. (Back) Cooper Gow, Robbie Hamilton, Josh Vearing, Jamie Hall, Shannon Wills, (front) Luke Hamilton, Jett Smith and Caden Robbins.

Legendary NBA player Michael Jordan starred in one of the biggest sports documentaries in history, The Last Dance.

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It told the tale of Jordan and the Chicago Bulls' final push for another championship ring in the late 1990s.

While a sports documentary won’t be made — although never-say-never — about Tatura Titans’ run to the Adelaide Easter Classic under-18 boys C2-grade grand final, that doesn’t make the team’s one last dance together any less special.

As the team's basketball season wound down, the Titans realised they had six players moving away from the team as they aged out of juniors.

For one final hoorah, the side decided to celebrate its long and winding journey together by shooting hoops at an interstate tournament.

Titans coach Julie Batey said the team went into the tournament with an aim to make the experience one to remember.

“We went over there with no expectations,” Batey said.

“We went over as a (season) finisher to have a bit of fun; whatever happened, happened.

“(The team) probably played the best basketball they have ever played and we made it to a grand final and it was amazing.

“Couldn’t be prouder.”

Tatura’s run to the decider was truly special as it defeated teams with greater depth and resources.

The Titans played with a carefree nature that had them defeat teams from Camberwell, Darebin, Norwood (South Australia) and Spearwood (Western Australia) on the way to being undefeated after the group stage.

Tatura then secured victory over Bulleen Bombers to earn a spot in the grand final against Western Australian side Scorpions Black.

Batey said her players’ upbeat nature throughout the tournament helped them achieve great success.

“For them, as a group of boys, to watch them be able to deliver on the court and have fun and smile and just want to be able to win and realise themselves how good they were playing,” she said.

“Coming into the grand final, the team we played was from Western Australia, they had 83 players and officials fly over, so they had 83 spectators in the grand final.

“We had 25 of us all together there from Tatura.

“(The opposition) were blown away by how well our boys had done.”

Although the Titans went down in the final, the team and Batey rightly believe they were the winners of the tournament thanks to their against-the-odds run.

While the side now separates as players move on to various senior and development squads, the Titans can hold this golden run dear to them as a highlight of their junior basketball days.