Half the Bellinger Braves junior representative basketball teams motored across the mountains for the weekend first round of Northern Junior Basketball League and returned home Sunday afternoon with nothing less than simply outstanding results.

Defending their 2015 Division one championship title, the Braves under 14 girls devastated all four opponents with sparkling displays of brilliant scoring teamwork and rock-solid defence.

In three scheduled games on the Saturday the Braves 14 girls ran riot over Coffs Harbour Suns Black beating them 80 points to 15 then defeated gallant Quirindi  80 points to 10 then their cross town friends and rivals Coffs Harbour Suns Red first team 64-35 in a dynamic performance.

Early Sunday morning the Braves again performed professionally to easily defeat host association team Tamworth Thunderbolts 64-7 to look invincible in the race for season 2016 NJL honours.

Looking strong and sharp the Braves under 16 boys also won three out of three contests overcoming host association Tamworth Blue in their first encounter 68-61 followed by rolling Byron Bay 67-62 then arch rivals Port Macquarie Dolphins 83-48.

Braves under 14 boys lost their first game against Port Macquarie Dolphins 63-28 then fired up to knock over Taree Tornadoes 63-28 and Tamworth Thunderbolts 56-47 in a gutsy effort.

Braves under 18 boys were highly competitive in each of their three games but could not close-out well enough in the final quarters.

They dropped their first game against Tamworth 57-44 and then beat Lismore Storm 67-53 in game two before running out of puff in their final contest losing to Byron Bay 66-33.

Ten wins from thirteen games at top level was certainly a super start to NJL season 2016 by Bellinger Valley Braves Basketball teams.

First weekend April will see the other four Braves teams, under 12 girls and boys, under 16 girls and under 18 girls head over to Tamworth for their first round games in Northern NSW Junior Basketball League.