BASKETBALL SUMMER SEASON GRAND FINALS.

The high standard of play was a feature of the South East Coast Basketball League Grand Final played at the IceHouse last week.

 A large crowd witnessed an entertaining Women’s final between minor premier Cougars and Panthers, who had been struggling for consistency in the latter weeks of the season.

Panthers were looking for back to back titles after winning the 2009 Winter flag but acknowledged the big challenge they faced in remaining focused on their own game.

Panthers however applied immediate pressure on Cougars through strong defensive efforts and stifled their momentum in offence. At the other end Panthers threw caution to the wind as Abby Loughhead, Bec Trench and Courtney Walters found the hoop from the perimeter.

Cougars came back hard in the early minutes of the second quarter to close the margin to single figures. Maddi Wilson, Narelle Ryan and Amy Cram all lifted. Panthers in an overall team effort then steadied and maintained the 10 point buffer at the main break. They continued the defensive pressure, led by Sonia Bawden, Bec Trench and Abby Loughhead, and built their lead to 17 at three quarter time as Natasha Silvy and Courtney Walters converted. Cougars on the other hand, were not given much latitude and had one of those nights when things did not fall their way.

Coach Knight rotated her 9 player squad most effectively to produce a winning team performance of 58-40.

Top scorers for the game were Walters on 14 and Silvy on 10 for Panthers. Talented state junior Emily Stafford led Cougars’ scoring with 9.

Panthers captain Sonia Bawden was named Most Valuable Player in the Grand Final.

The Man’s Final between Panthers-Wizards and Roos-Lakers started as a close affair on the board. Kingsley Clark found range outside for four three pointers while Chris Mason opened well for the Wizards to give his side a one point lead at quarter time.

Roos -Lakers marked their name on the premiership flag in the second when Clark bagged two more threes making it six for the game and Andy Tipton got going. In contrast Wizards’ scoring all but dried up; Nick Morrison being the only player to trouble the scorer more than once.

The Andy Tipton show unfolded in the third quarter. He scored 15 points including three threes for Roos-Lakers. Wizards however managed to stay in touch through Morrison, the tireless Mason, Steve Csono and Ben Brumby.

Tipton and Csono went head to head in the final minutes, Tipton made 12 and Scono 10 to set up a 91-78 win to Roos-Lakers. Tipton also finished with 6 threes and a total of 38 points, Clark had 29. Morrison led the way for Wizards with 23; Scono had 19 and Mason 16.

Clark was named MVP for the final.

SECBL Season MVP Awards went to Bulldogs Sara Chapple who polled 18 votes. Stacey Fox of Panthers and Kate Seebohm of Cats followed each on 15 votes. Maddi Wilson of Cougars won the Sally-Jane Allen/Trisha Flett Memorial Award for the junior recording most votes in the senior MVP award. She scored 14 votes.  

Simon Berkefeld of Bulldogs scored 30 votes for a comfortable win in the Men’s Award. This adds to his outstanding record in this prestigious individual award. In the past nine seasons he has won six and been runner-up in three, an unbelievable record in its own right.   

The Bill Cook Memorial Award for the junior men was not presented this season because a junior did not poll sufficient votes. This situation reflects the dominance of seniors in this competition this season.