The Bulldogs Basketball Club fired up the Ice House last Wednesday night when they claimed dual South East Coast Basketball League Premierships. This is the first double since the Panthers Club made history in the SECBL with double premierships in the 2009 winter season. A large crowd of supporters witnessed two high standard and entertaining games of basketball.

Bulldogs’ Men’s and Women’s teams both finished minor premiers and won their second semi-finals for a direct run into the grand final games.

The Women’s final opened as a low scoring physical encounter in which both teams struggled to settle into their respective game patterns. Bulldogs, through Sarah Lock, Shelley Cornolo and Sara Chapple, outscored Cougars by 6 in the second quarter. On the other hand Maddi Wilson was the only Cougars’ player to trouble the scorer on a regular basis and Kylie Venn was doing a solid defensive job at the other end of the court.

The game continued as an even tough physical contest in the second half. State junior Georgia Green turned in an outstanding effort for Cougars at both ends of the court. Shelley Cornolo however stepped up and Chapple searched desperately for control for Bulldogs. Venn and Kylie Allen supported Green and kept the scoreboard ticking over for Cougars. Key players Chapple and Allen had concerning personal foul tallies at this stage of the game.

The fourth quarter followed the pattern of earlier minutes with Cornolo and Chapple maintaining control and Cougars scrapping to stay in touch.

The turning point of the game came at the five minute mark when Cougars’ Allen fouled out. Emily Stafford stepped up to support Green but Chapple used her basketball “smarts” to control the tempo and guide Bulldogs to the SECBL title. Leading scorers in the game were Chapple, 17 and Cornolo 15 for Bulldogs. Green and Stafford led the way for Cougars. Chapple was named MVP of the grand final.

The Men’s final between favourites Bulldogs and season improver Panthers was a contrasting spectacle. It was all Bulldogs in the opening minutes as they cruised out to a 15-3 lead. It appeared as if the Panthers players were a little over awed by the occasion. Simon and Matt Berkefeld each had 10 points in a superb shooting display by the first break.

Panthers’ players eventually settled down after the opening blitz. They applied pressure on their opponents and matched the scoring momentum of Bulldogs through the efforts of Tyson Kettle and Jak Ryan. The highlight of the first half was however the amazing shooting percentage displayed by the Bulldogs’ Berkefelds and Kurt Russell.

 Defences had more of an impact in the third quarter as Panthers managed to stem the scoring rate and close the gap to a degree.

The early minutes of the fourth quarter were marked by a relatively even contest until Bulldogs asserted their authority and finished off with a comprehensive 90-63 win to end a successful 2011 winter season. Two Bulldogs players, engineer Russell and finisher Simon Berkefeld turned in outstanding performances. Berkefeld was awarded the MVP of the grand final.  

Berkefeld scored a game high 30 points; brother Matt had 19 and Russell 18 for Bulldogs. Tyson Kettle, Mitch Mott, Teagan Brown and Jak Ryan were consistent contributors for Panthers.

 Deputy Mayor of the City of Mount Gambier, Byron Harfield, presented the team and individual awards at the conclusion of each final.

SECBL Grand Final Results:

Women: Bulldogs 50 defeated Cougars 43. Top scorers for Bulldogs were Sara Chapple 17, Shelley Cornolo 15, and Sarah Lock 10.

Leading scorers for Cougars were Georgia Green 12, Emily Stafford 8, Kylie Allen 7 and Kylie Venn 6.           

Men: Bulldogs 90 defeated Panthers 63. Top scorers for Bulldogs were Simon Berkefeld 30, Matt Berkefeld 19, Kurt Russell 18 and Jake Harrap 9.

Leading scorers for Panthers were Tyson Kettle and Mitchell Mott each on 14, Teagan Brown 13and Jak Ryan 10.