GRAND FINAL HEART BREAK
No matter how many times they tried, the baskets that fell for the Maitland Mustangs just 24 hours before would not go in.
The Mustangs went down 65-60 to the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles in a tense Waratah Australian Basketball League final at Newcastle Basketball Stadium last night, but not without a fight. Down by 21 points against the red hot favourites and minor premiers in the lead up to half-time the Mustangs clawed their way back into the decider and within reach of a fairytale victory.
A day earlier the Mustangs defeated the Sydney Comets 64-62 in the final minute of play to win the semi-final and qualify for the grand final.
Competing in the club’s first Waratah League final the Mustangs came back to level the scores at 35-all in the third quarter before the Sea Eagles blew out to an 11-point lead.
Once again the Mustangs fought back and in a gallant effort came within a solitary point (61-60) on the back of a three-pointer to co-captain Josh Clifford with 11 seconds remaining on the clock.
With premiership glory in their sights, the first for the Mustangs men since 1990 in State League division two, they scurried and scrapped for everything they could.
It was enough to give themselves a shot at the title.
Down 63-60 and inside the final second of play Butch Hays, the former Newcastle Falcon who announced his retirement from basketball after the game, put up a shot from outside the three point line.
The crowd, in excess of 1000, waited with baited breath as the ball sailed from Hays’ hands and towards the ring.
It hit the rim twice before bouncing out.
The Sea Eagles regained possession and their main man Ben Arkell sunk two free throws to put the match out of reach for the Mustangs.
After the buzzer sounded the Mustangs dropped their heads thinking about what might have been but they grouped together and were picked up by the crowd chanting their name in unison.
Mustangs coach Luke Boyle was proud of the effort his boys put in, but put the loss down to poor shooting.
“We shot at 22 percent in the first half,” Boyle said.
“That killed us really.
“Had we shot those early we would have been in it.”
The Mustangs were down 33-20 and at one stage in the second quarter trailled 32-11.
Boyle applauded the Mustangs’ spirit last night and throughout the entire season.
“We’ve had many ups and downs this year ... and there are a few of us that have been around here for a long time,” Boyle said.
“To make the final was a wonderful effort .”
Co-captain Josh Clifford agreed.
“We tried and we tried and we tried,” he said.
In the first half it just did not drop for us but once we got it together we were in the contest.
“To go down like that is heartbreaking, to be so close, but it has been a great year.”
Clifford scored 15 while his co-captain Andy Allen, who was named defensive player of the league, scored 13 and made four assists.
Scott McGregor top scored with 18 and secured 16 rebounds.
Just 24 hours before the Mustangs won a nail-biting semi-final against the Comets.
The Mustangs won 64-62 at the same venue on Saturday night after Dan Proctor nailed a fade away jump shot with 14 seconds to play to break the deadlock and send the boys in black, white and red to the final.
The Mustangs had lead by 19 points at one stage before the Comets regained a one point lead in the final minutes.
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