DOUBLE FOR COUGARS IN SE COAST BASKETBALL LEAGUE.

Cougars Basketball Club added double SECBL flags to their Trophy collection last Wednesday night when they won the Men’s and Women’s 2013 Winter Season Basketball Grand Finals. Prior to this season, Cougars, Bulldogs and Panthers have all recorded double titles in a season, Bulldogs in Winter 2011, Cougars in Winter 2012 and Panthers last season 2012/13 Summer. Cougars in making it two doubles in three years, sets a new benchmark for opposition clubs to chase.

The Women’s final between Cougars and minor premier Panthers began in a different fashion to their earlier contests; it was Cougars’ turn to get away to a dominant start just as they did against  Bulldogs in the semi-final. Kylie Allen led Cougars, backed up by Kylie Venn and Georgia Green. In contrast Panthers relied too heavily on Brianna Walters who had scored 13 of her team’s total of 30 at the main break. Meanwhile Cougars had a more even spread of scorers and had stretched their lead to 5, 35-30

Green and Ebony Cunningham made the break 8 at three quarter time as Panthers still searched for effective team offence. Melissa Renko and Sonia Bawden continued to work hard against strong body work for scores from the field and stripe. Kelly Lockwood hit a timely three but then had her attempt to level the scores rim out in the closing seconds.      

Georgia Green finished with 22 points, Kylie Allen 10 and Ebony Cunningham 9 for the Premiers, while Brianna Walters also had a personal tally of 22, followed by Melissa Renko on 13 and Sonia Bawden on 8.

Brianna Walters was won the City of Mount Gambier Most Valuable Player Award for the grand final.

Panthers-Wizards made a bold start against Cougars in the Men’s Grand Final when they led 17-10 at quarter time. After that it was all Cougars as they went on a scoring blitz. Kane deWit assumed control of the ball and, with team-mates, outscored Wizards 46-17 in the second and third quarters. Young guns deWit, Sam Stafford and Braiden Ousey stepped on the gas in the final 10 minutes to record a comprehensive 84-49 point win. Matt Parslow, Peter Loring, Michael Stephens and Matthew Rhodes continued to compete but could not impact on the scoreboard.

deWit, judged the City of Mount Gambier MVP of the final, scored a game high 27 points. Stafford, in his typically quiet achiever approach, finished with 21, Ben Tremelling with 14 and Ousey on 10.

Matt Parslow concluded a fine season for Panthers-Wizards with 15 points, stalwart Stephens had 10 and Loring 9. Even though the result is disappointing for Wizards, they have had a commendable season when one considers the loss of Nick Morrison and Ben Brumby.

MOST VALUABLE PLAYER AWARDS.

 The name Berkefeld has been linked with the Men’s SECBL prestigious individual award since Winter 2005 and this season is no exception except that Matthew, younger brother of Simon, previous awardee, is the winner on 23 votes. His commitment to concentrate on basketball and particularly the Pioneers has paid dividends. There is no doubt that he is the most improved basketballer in the SECBL this season.

Matt Parslow and Sam Stafford share the runner-up title on 21votes. Parslow has just completed an outstanding career in junior ranks. He was captain of SA Country Under 18’s in his last year and has now moved on to being a talented member of the Pioneers’ Development squad.

Stafford is recognised as one of the most athletically gifted and skilful junior basketballer of the State in recent years.  He was invited to a recent Australian Junior Camp and turned in consistent outstanding performances in the 2013 Under 18 National championships.

Stafford, being the junior recording the highest number of votes won the Bill Cook Memorial Trophy.

Georgia Green and Brianna Walters have both developed into elite junior basketballers. Their achievements at Club, representative, state and national levels have been outstanding. They have both enjoyed many successes as team-mates and leaders of SA Country teams. It is therefore fitting that they share the Mount Gambier Association individual awards in their final season as junior basketballers.

Green and Walters polled 22 votes as joint winners of the season MVP Award and hence share the Sally-Jane/Trisha Flett Memorial Trophy for the junior scoring most votes in the MVP count.