The Lonergan and Muhovics Millicent Basketball Association 2012 / 13 Summer Season Basketball Grand Finals were recently played and well supported with many people getting out to watch the local finals. On the night at the completion of each game winning medallions were presented along with the best and fairest players for the season were announced and presented. All 5 Grand Finals were played on Wednesday 10^th April.

The Grand Final in the Senior Men’s was between Eagles 47 defeated Roos 37 but the game started off with Roos winning the 1^st quarter and looking likely with Brodie Hennink, Adam Weise and Clint Gallio all up and contributing. After the 1^st break however it was a different story as Eagles started to find the open man and players like Andrew Thorne, Aaron Leopold and Matt Faulkner all started to have an influence on the score board and this created a lead by 8 at the main break. The 3^rd quarter was a real tussle as both team battled to gain or keep control. Eagles started to take the ball to the basket more and this caused Roos some fouls and with Eagles scoring from the charity stripe they managed to hold the lead at the quarters end. Going into the last Eagles led by 11 points and although Roos won the last quarter Eagles were always in control.

Grand Final high scorers: Eagles: A. Leopold 13, A. Thorne 11, M. Faulkner 10, P. Holmes 4, S. Lonergan 3, J Baron 3, J. Faulkner 3. Roos: B. Hennink 10, C. Gallio 8, S. Gamble 8, A. Wiese 7, B. Gordon 4.

 

Senior Women’s grand final was won by Tigers 36 by defeating Pumas 32 in a game that was close low scoring and close all the way through despite Tigers having a 7 point lead at the half time break. This was mainly to due Sarah Pretty who had a 7 point quarter and Donna Denton who was dominating the rebounding. Pumas were relying heavily on Sarah Allan to keep the scoring going and she was leading the way with 8 points at the half time break. The 2^nd half of the game was won by Pumas by 3 points and despite getting within 2 points of Tigers in the last quarter when Donna Denton was fouled out of the game. Heidi Clark and Sally Houlihan of Tigers took the responsibility from this point on for their team and scored some very valuable point and made all of their fouls shot attempts. Then in the closing stages Clare Varcoe made a clutch basket under extreme pressure and from this moment Tigers had the game in their keeping. Team high scorers: Tigers: S Pretty 9, S. Houlihan 9, D. Denton 7, H. Clark 6, L. Sandilands 3, C. Varcoe 2. Pumas: S. Allan 18, J. Allan 6, E. Watson 3, M. Redman 2, M. Allan 2, S. Puiatti 1.

 

Women’s C Grand Final was between Devils 24 defeated Tigers 19. Tigers had a good start in this game leading by 6 points at the first break and looked to going really well with Bianca Buwalda on fire scoring 8 points which came off good tight defence. However this is where it stopped as Devils tighten up in defence keeping Tigers scoreless in the 2^nd term while Ann Sharp, Nicole Thomas and others dominated the scoring with 14 points which ended up being a match winning break. Tigers however did have a real crack in the last quarter to get back within striking distance but points from Ann Sharp and Kimberley Crowe kept them at arms- length. Team high scorers Devils: A. Sharp 10, K. Crowe 4, d. White 4, L. Chilton 2. Tigers: B. Buwalda 8, A. Bott 4, S. Buwalda, Kristen Freeman 2, Kerrie Freeman 2.

Women’s B Grand Final between Panthers 43 defeating Tigers 30. The first half was low scoring and defensive with 5 points the difference with Panthers in front, with Kristie Rowe being the difference between the teams. Kristie was in everything from scoring to rebounding despite Wanda Waring of Tigers making it hard for her. After the long break Lucy Barber and Kristie Rowe led the scoring for Panthers and this allowed their team to take a match winning lead into the last quarter. Tigers were showing signs of fatigue and really missing the 3 absent players from their regular line-up but despite this never gave up but they struggled to find a space to score apart from the old stager Wanda Waring who finished with 19 points. Team high scorers: Panthers: K. Rowe 21, L. Barber 7, J. Cushion 7, S. Bowman 6, C. Fuentes 2. Tigers: W. Waring 19, Z. Blum 5, M. Stanley 4, L. Puiatti 2.

 

Men’s B grade Grand Final between Tigers 50 defeated Pumas 34. Tigers got off to a quick start and were never headed despite Pumas getting back to be within 2 points at the half time break. Tigers were having a great team effort with all players contributing while for Tigers Patrick Reid was building the game of his season by dominating the rebounding and scoring for his team. After the main break though Tigers dominated the 3^rd quarter through Mason Redman hitting 10 points from 6 shots and this effort broke the Pumas open and Tigers went on to win with all 7 player on their list scoring.

Team high scorers Tigers:, M. Redman 13, J. Wallis 9, B. Watson 7, T. Watson 7, B. Gibbs 6, H. Wallis 4, S. Withers 4. Pumas: P. Reid 16, J. Cooper 11, P. Seebohm 5, J. Brooks 2.

 

Best and Fairest and runner-up 2012 / 2013 Summer season

Senior Women

B&F     Donna Denton 61 votes      Runner-up       S Allan            31votes

Senior Men

B&F     Clint Gallio     33 votes           Runner-up       Scott Lonergan 31 votes

Men’s B

B&F     Cameron Slape 39 votes        Runner-up       Todd Watson   38 votes

Callan Hobbs     39 votes                               Henry Wallis   38 votes

Women’s B

B&F     Michelle Hann  79 votes        Runner-up       Chloe Dawson 68 votes

Women’s C

B&F     Peta Haines    58 votes          Runner-up     Annette Reid   45 votes

 

Photos of teams and award winners can be found in the photo gallery.