The youngest Deni Junior Giants led the way at their second basketball tournament of the season.
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The under-14 girls took home a championship, and the under-12 boys black team also earned a grand final appearance in a step up to Division 1 in Swan Hill across October 24 and 25.
Across the weekend, several other Giants teams recorded important wins, competed in close contests and demonstrated encouraging growth as the season progresses.
The u14 girls made an impressive start to their tournament, defeating Seymour Blasters 38-15 in their opening game.
The Giants applied scoreboard pressure from the opening minutes, forcing turnovers across the court and setting the tone for the weekend.
The second round encounter against Mildura Heat proved more challenging, with Deni going down 30-20 in a competitive contest.
The girls were eager to return to the winners' list against Swan Hill Division 1.
While the Giants competed strongly, Swan Hill found another gear in the final 10 minutes to secure a 33-22 victory.
The Giants responded in the semi-final against Swan Hill Division 2, delivering an impressive performance to win 38-15 and book their place in the grand final against Mansfield Eagles.
The grand final presented an opportunity for redemption, with the Giants having faced Mansfield twice at the Wangaratta tournament without securing a win.
Determined to turn the tables, the girls came out firing, applying defensive pressure and taking early control of the scoreboard.
They maintained their lead throughout the contest, displaying excellent teamwork, determination and composure under pressure.
With the team getting into foul trouble during the final six minutes, the pressure intensified.
However, the Giants remained focused, had trust and continued to execute their roles right through to the final buzzer.
Aysha Bartlett received the Tournament Award after a fantastic weekend.
She brought energy, intensity and determination every time she stepped onto the court, relentlessly attacking the basket, taking on defenders and creating pressure for the opposition.
The u12 boys black faced a significant challenge in Swan Hill, stepping up to Division 1 after convincing Division 3 victories at their previous tournament.
Their opening game against Mildura Heat introduced the boys to a new level of structure, pace and pressure.
The Giants went down 44-18, but the match provided an important learning opportunity as they adjusted to the higher division.
The boys responded strongly, recording a 33-20 win over Swan Hill before edging Benalla in a nail-biting 33-32 contest.
Their final round-robin game against Mansfield was another opportunity to build momentum, and the Giants made the most of it.
A quick start helped establish early confidence before they secured a convincing 36-18 win and another grand final appearance.
The grand final brought a rematch against Mildura Heat, with the Giants ready to fight for the title.
It was a shaky start, as Deni initially struggled to match Mildura's intensity, but the boys regained their composure, found their feet and began putting points on the board.
The contest was a grind from start to finish, requiring the Giants to dig deep and rely on their teamwork and grit to remain competitive.
Although the boys fell short of the ultimate prize, their improvement since the first meeting with Mildura was clear.
Levi Robson was awarded Grand Final MVP, contributing an impressive 26 points on the scoreboard.
Asher Parsons received the Tournament Award for his outstanding efforts.
He consistently listened to his coach, supported his teammates and left everything on the court.
The under-18 girls produced a solid performance in a smaller Division 1 tournament.
Their campaign began with a convincing 33-13 win over Sherbrook Suns, followed by a 27-19 victory against Border Sports.
The next two games presented a tougher challenge, with the Giants facing well-structured Mildura Heat and Swan Hill Flyers sides. Deni went down 45-19 to Mildura before suffering a 62-23 defeat against Swan Hill.
Their final game against Mansfield proved a thrilling contest that could have gone either way.
Without their taller players available, the Giants faced additional challenges but fell just two points short in a 24-22 loss.
Bella Hillier received the Berrima Engineering Award in recognition of her consistency throughout the tournament.
The under-18 boys got the monkey off their backs with a hard-fought 27-21 opening-round win over Swan Hill Flyers.
Their second game against Mildura Heat was a much tougher assignment, with the Heat dominant in the 71-21 victory.
A Saturday night encounter against another strong side, Warracknabeal, resulted in a second loss, with the Giants going down 51-18.
Determined to turn things around on Sunday, the boys returned to the court with a positive attitude and were rewarded with a 31-23 win over Seymour Blasters.
Their final game against Benalla was expected to be a close contest, based on previous encounters.
The Giants struggled to convert their early opportunities, allowing Benalla to take control and secure a 39-22 victory.
Logan Elphick received the Tournament Award for his pivotal role in the team's performance, with his impact across the court standing out throughout the weekend.
The under-14 boys orange team had an outstanding tournament, with close games from the opening round highlighting their ability to compete under pressure.
Their campaign began with a dramatic 29-28 victory over Mansfield Eagles, secured by a buzzer-beater from Jaxon Beames.
The second round against Yorta Yorta Turtles was another tight contest, with the Giants maintaining their composure to claim a 22-19 win.
Deni continued its strong form in round three, defeating Mildura Heat 36-19.
The final round presented the team's toughest challenge, with Seymour Blasters A having demonstrated their dominance throughout the tournament.
The Giants worked hard but were unable to match the Blasters, going down 60-1.
Jaxon received the Tournament Award for his strong defensive play and ability to keep his teammates' spirits high throughout the tournament.
The under-16 boys recorded another solid tournament performance, showing their ability to play as a team despite heading into the opening day a player short.
They started strongly with a 29-19 win over Mansfield, before facing a difficult challenge against Seymour, going down 47-18.
Their third game against Mildura Heat was a highlight, with the Giants displaying outstanding teamwork and determination to secure a thrilling 34-31 victory.
With a finals place still within reach, the boys entered their final round-robin game against Border Sports keen to finish strongly.
A slow start allowed Border Sports to establish an early advantage, and despite regrouping, the Giants were unable to turn the scoreboard around, falling 37-32.
Jordie White received the Tournament Award for his tenacity and relentless defensive pressure across all games.
The under-14 boys black team also stepped up to Division 1 for the Swan Hill tournament and, despite finishing the weekend with one win, showed plenty of promise against quality opposition.
Their opening game against Swan Hill Flyers saw the opposition take control early, but the Giants regrouped and held the lead during the final three minutes before narrowly going down 31-27.
The boys bounced back in their second game, defeating Swan Hill Division 2 by an impressive 58-10.
A meeting with Mildura Heat followed, with the Giants remaining within reach throughout the contest but unable to match the Heat's accurate three-point shooting. Deni eventually fell 41-37.
Sunday morning brought another opportunity against Mildura, but despite bringing energy and belief into the rematch, the Giants were unable to reverse the result, going down 34-24.
Jake Woolston received the Tournament Award. He made the most of his opportunities on court, highlighting great plays and ability to sneak in baskets even when his court time was limited.
While the under-16 girls and under-12 boys orange team are still searching for their first win of the 2026/27 season, both teams showed encouraging signs of progress in Swan Hill.
The u16 girls had three games for the tournament, beginning with a difficult 29-4 loss to an unfamiliar Warracknabeal side.
The girls responded with a hard-fought 14-all draw against Border Sports before narrowly losing to Yorta Yorta Turtles by five points.
Chloe Marshall received the Tournament Award for her hard work, determination and willingness to learn.
The u12 boys orange also faced a strong Warracknabeal side in their opening game, going down 47-1.
They bounced back in their closest game yet, scoring the opening basket against Mildura Heat before narrowly falling 21-18.
Their final two games resulted in losses to Swan Hill (57-10) and Border Sports (38-19).
Arley Bulmer received the Tournament Award for his effort throughout the weekend.
The club’s next tournament appearance will be in Shepparton on November 7 and 8 - the final tournament of the year.