Basketball Grand Final

The Phillip Island & District Basketball Association 2017 winter season finished off last week with grand final games across all age groups at Cowes and San Remo.

Every player and coach should be congratulated for reaching for a great season, with all players contributing to make each game a thrill to watch.

Cowes

To kick off the grand final day the U10 boys Black Raptors and Red Dragons played their consolation final with a nail biting seven to six point win going to the Raptors in the last seconds of the game. Joshua Poll and Harvey Strachan scored well for the Black Raptors, while Tyler Duell and Jack Mascaros kept the scores close for the Dragons.

It was then the U10 boys grand final game where the Yellow Gators, who have been the team to beat, took a 16 point win against the Royal Hornets, taking home the premiership trophies. Jack Coulter and Nathan Patch top scored for the Gators, while Toby Davies and Neddy Saliba-Duck scored for the Hornets.

The U12 boys grand final started out as a close game until Black Wildcats found their form and sprinted away with a 22 to 10 point win against the Royal Thunder to take the premiership this season. Finn O'Brien and Jack Huther top scored for the Wildcats, while Jasper Cashman and Beau Davies scored well for the Thunder. Congratulations to Jack Huther who also took home the most valuable player award in the Cowes U12 boys this 2017 winter season.

The crowd was waiting for a thrilling game in the U14 boys grand final and they got it with the Red Mavericks and Blue Wolves. The scores were neck-and-neck until the very last minute of the game when the Mavericks left it all on the court for a 36 to 28 point victory and become this season's premiers. Anthony Petropoulos started the scoring for the Mavericks and had support from team members Leon Matthews and Ben Taylor, scoring well to give the Mavericks the win. Leo Savona and Jett McMillan were in great form for the Wolves scoring to keep the game close. Congratulations to Ben Taylor who also took home the Cowes U14 boys most valuable player award for the second time.

In the U12 girls grand final the Purple Comets had a great season and despite a very close start in their grand final game they slipped away to grab the premiership trophies with a 34 to 18 point win against the Navy Magic. The Comets were strong with all team members scoring to help take the win with Hannah Kelly, Meika White, Tailyn Payne all scoring well. Cara Moschetti top scored for the Magic. Congratulations to Hannah Kelly who also took out the Cowes U12 girls most valuable player award this season.

The last, but definitely not least, grand final game at Cowes was the U14 girls Navy Suns who were on form and after a close start, took the premiership title from the Red Falcons with a 36 to 28 point win. Poppy Marshall and Zoe O'Garey were on fire for the Suns top scoring for the game, followed by Sienna McFarlane, while Xyleigh and Cienna Tobias and Amelia Crooks kept the scores close for the Falcons until the last minutes of the game. With another great season behind her, congratulations to Xyleigh Tobias who was awarded the most valuable player for the Cowes U14 girls.

San Remo

Grand final day at San Remo started off festive with a full stadium for the U10 mixed teams consolation final, where the Golden Nuggets took a two point win from the Black Heat. Sebastian Harris top scored for the Nuggets, while Oliver Lamb and Harvey Jacobs scored for the Heat to keep the game close.

The U10 mixed team grand final game had all spectators on the edge of their seats for a thrilling finish of a one point win to the Red Tigers who took the premiers trophy from the Royal Clippers with a 16 to 15 point win. Jeremy Kelly scored for the Tigers, while Mitchell Hudson top scored for the Clippers.

After a tight finish in the U10s, the U12 mixed team grand final did not disappoint with the Red Raiders securing the premiership with a 32 to 31 point win against the Golden Knights. The atmosphere in the stadium was exciting with Isaac Savona top scoring for the Raiders with help from Jayden Galea, Hannah Kelly and Lachlan Marks. Levi Boost top scored for the Knights with help from team members Sienna McFarlane and Mitch McKay. Congratulations to most valuable players Isaac Savona for the boys and Sienna McFarlane for the girls and coaches award winner Mitch McKay and Foul Shot competition winner Levi Boost for this seasons U12s awards.

The anticipation was picking up in preparation for another close game in the U14 mixed grand final match, where the Golden Stars shone on court with a 39 to 35 point win in the last minutes against the Blue Meteors. Both teams took it in turns to lead in the game, however Sonny Merryfull and Huon Bould top scored for the Stars to help secure the premiership, while Dale Robinson top scored for the Meteors with help from Leo Savona and Sienna McFarlane to keep it a close game until the very end. Congratulations to the U14 most valuable players Dale Robinson and Bella Schmidt this season and to coaches award winner Ruby Bond. Well done to Dale Robinson for also winning the U14 foul shot competition award.

The final game of the winter 2017 season saw an outstanding grand final match in the U16 mixed teams where the Black Spurs took a 43 to 41 win against the Golden Warriors to grab the premiership. Harry O'Brien and Mungo Charles scored well, along with team mates to help secure their victory, while Kai Mackenzie and Angus Burns top scored for the Warriors. Congratulations to Nikki Williams and Flynn McMahon for taking home the U16s most valuable players awards this season and congratulations to Liam Dayson for being awarded the coaches award and taking home the three point shot competition award.

The crowds were big once again, but the effort and enthusiasm from the players and coaches was bigger with very close games to keep the crowd entertain for the day. It was an inspiring end to the season and there is already great anticipation for the basketball 2017/18 summer season.