SECBL Preliminary Finals
South East Coast Basketball League Preliminary Final Night Sept.1st. 2010.
Panthers-Wizards Men and Cougars Women move into the winter season grand finals after scoring wins in the respective preliminary finals last night.
The Panthers women opened in a more confident manner against Cougars than they had in previous encounters.Their regulation season resultsread 66-46, 58-30 and 48-35, all in Cougars' favour. Panthers led by three at the first break as Sam Loughhead and Courtney Walters found range.
Cougars' team work kicked in in the crucial second quarter as they adapted to the loss of injured play maker Shauni Cunningham.They were more efficient through Catherine Larkin. Panthers on the other hand had plenty of the ball but did not convert as well.
At half time Cougars led 30-26.
The third quarter was the best of the match. Cougars produced a team effort while Abby Loughhead and Kathryn Facey, despite close attention from opponents, kept Panthers within 5 points.
State juniors Emily Stafford and Sam Loughhead stepped up for their sides in the last quarter. Panthers managed to close the gap by two but Cougars held on for a 58-55 win.
Stafford led her team's scoring with 15 points and Maddi Wilson finished with 11. For Panthers Abby Loughhead had 15, Courtney Walters 14 and Sam Loughhead 13.
Cougars women will now start favourites in the grand final against Cats in Mount Gambier next Wednesday.
Panthers-Wizards Men broke their game open against Cougars in the premiership, the third quarter when they compiled 21 points to Cougars 8.Final result was 78 to 59.
Dallas Jeffree led Cougars to a 3 point lead at the first break, but Matt Parslow, Nick Morrison and Chris Mason scored a flurry of points to give Wizards a 5 point lead at the main break.Defensive pressure by Wizards reduced Jeffree's influence in the third quarter and at the same time saw Morrison and Mason dominate at the other end.
Not to be denied, Jeffree showed his class and took on the Wizards to score 10 in the final quarter and a total of 23. Jackson Trappett had 11 and Ben Tremelling 9 in support.
Morrison maintained his ascendancy for Wizards to get a game high 27 points. Mason topped off a fine all-round game with 17 and state junior Parslow had 15.
This outcome gives Panthers-Wizards another meeting with the classy Bulldogs line-up in the grand final next week.
Game Results: Preliminary Finals.
Women Cougars 58 d Panthers 55
Cougars leading scorers: Emily Stafford 15, Maddi Wilson 11, Catherine larkin 8.
Panthers leading scorers: Abby Loughhead 15, Courtney Walters 14, Sam Loughhead 13.
Men: Panthers-Wizards 78 d Cougars 59
Leading scorers for Wizards: Nick Morrison 27, Chris Mason 17, Matt Parslow 15.
Leading scorers for Cougars: Dallas Jeffree 23, Jackson Trappett 11 and Ben Tremelling 9.
Last Modified on 02/09/2010 10:01
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