Big V Finals Week Three Preview
Championship Women (1st 16-5): vs. Hume City (3rd 12-9) @ Broadmeadows Basketball Stadium, Saturday 7.30pm
The Lady Cats will take a three-nil season advantage over Hume City into game one of their first ever grand final series on Saturday night at Broadmeadows. The reigning champion Lady Broncos booked a berth in the decider with an impressive clean-sweep of Waverley. Geelong coach Grantley Bernard is looking forward to meeting the competition powerhouse. “We’ve felt OK playing them this season,” he said. “We match up pretty well against them, so just roll the ball out and see what happens.” The battle between Sarah De Grandi/Candice Rogers and former Lady Cat Ana Marinovic in the paint will have a massive bearing on the result. Marinovic has been outstanding in 2010, averaging 11.6ppg and 10rpg, well up on her career figures of 6.9ppg and 6.8rpg. She had 15 points in the opening two games against Geelong, as well as grabbing double-figure rebounds. However in the final round meeting at The Arena Annexe she had just seven points, on 3-of-17 shooting, and eight rebounds. Former Bendigo WNBL player Anna Teague has been in stunning form for Geelong. Her last five outings have produced 15.4ppg and 9.4rpg, including 17 points and eight rebounds against Hume City on August 1. The Lady Cats have averaged more than 69 points on offence in 2010 and conceding just 61. The Lady Broncos score at just 63 points per game and give up 62.
Division 1 Men (16-4): vs. Melbourne University (2nd 14-6) @ Melbourne University Sports Centre, Saturday 7.00pm
The Cats will start favourites to win their first title in nine years against Melbourne University, with game one at the University Sports Centre on Saturday night. The Black Angels struggled past Warrnambool in three games in their semi-final series, after being forced into double-overtime by the Seahawks. “Melbourne Uni is very strong,” Cats’ coach Shayne Bow said. “And they’re very tough to be beat on their home court. Uni’s crowd get right into it.” The Cats and Black Angels met twice during the season, with the series split at one-all. In their most recent meeting in the final round of the season, the Students were too good for an undermanned Cats roster 92-77. Both shooting guard and captain Paul Hutchison and important role player Craig Jarvis missed the clash. They both will score crucial points, and their ability to find the basket takes the pressure off Jason Reardon. Liam Norton was the key for University in game three against Warrnambool. He finished with 32 points, grabbed 10 rebounds and dishing six assists. The support he gets from the like of Scott Cuffe, Justin Turnley and Nic Masunda will be important if the Black Angels are to return to Geelong for game two with a one-nil advantage.
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