VJBL FEATURED FINALS
GIRLS UNDER 12 - VICTORIAN JUNIOR LEAGUE 4
First Semi-Final – Court 9, Dandenong Basketball Stadium (29.8)
Chelsea – 26 dft Keilor – 25
On Friday night in front of a packed Dandenong Basketball Stadium crowd, Chelsea and Keilor put on one of the displays of the season in Junior League Four Semi-Final action. With a spot in the grand-final up for grabs, neither side left anything on the floor as one-point separated these teams when the final siren sounded.
Friday night’s contest began in see-sawing fashion as both sides made baskets early and the scores were tied at four.
As the first half progressed, it became clear that the battle between the two number 35’s was the key to both team’s chances.
Keilor’s number 35 Brigid Westgarth, a fast guard with great ball-handling skills and Chelsea’s number 35 Casey Shiel, a tall, intimidating centre, went back-and-forth all game and played outstanding basketball for their respective squads.
For Chelsea, Shiel was simply dominant. When she wasn’t grabbing rebounds and scoring, Shiel was blocking shots and creating opportunities for her team. With five blocks in the first half, Shiel was proving a dominant inside force for her side.
For Keilor, Westgarth drove to the hole time and again in the first half. When Chelsea’s Aimee Mills made her second shot of the first half, her side has stretched the lead to five points and led 11-6 at half-time.
In the second half, with her side down five, Keilor’s Brigit Westgarth scored early, stole the ball from Chelsea and created a lay-up for teammate Erica Markesich. When Ellen Wright scored an easy basket off an inbounds pass on the baseline for Keilor, the lead was down to three and Keilor were back in the hunt.
In the final minutes of the game, with the scores becoming close, both sides turned to their stars to get the job done. For Keilor, Westgarth scored again and for Chelsea, Shiel racked up her seventh block of the game. With the scored tied at 24-24, Keilor’s Erica Markesich drove to basket and was fouled. When Markesich went to the line and made only one, the door was left open for Chelsea to swoop in and steal the game. And that’s exactly what happened.
With only seconds remaining on the clock, Chelsea’s Sophie Bogdan grabbed a loose ball under the basket and made the two to gather the lead back for her side in what turned out to be the play of the game. With six seconds remaining, Keilor were unable to create the game-winning play and fell by the slimmest of margins 26-25 in a great display of competitive basketball.
For Chelsea, the combination of Shiel on defence and Mills on offense proved too much. Mills finished with 10 points, leading all scorers on the night. For Keilor, Westgarth scored eight points and tried hard all night.
With Chelsea now heading straight to the grand-final, Keilor get one more chance in the Preliminary Final against Mornington 2 next week.
BOYS UNDER 16 – VICTORIAN JUNIOR LEAGUE 1
First Semi-Final – Court 9, Dandenong Basketball Stadium (29.8)
Knox 2 – 33 dft Blackburn – 31
In a battle befitting the finals atmosphere it was played in, Knox 2 and Blackburn played out one of the games of the season on Friday night. The Raiders, who led for all but the opening moments of the game, survived a late rally from the Vikings, to claw their way to a 33-31 win.
With both sides winning once this season, Friday night’s contest was well and truly up for grabs. Knox, coming off a Quarter Final win over Eltham, started confidently. With Scott Davies operating on the perimeter and Clayton Rosa working hard in the post, the Raiders had two consistent scorers to go to time and again.
When Rosa and Davies combined for two straight baskets early, Knox looked dangerous and established a 10-5 lead. For Blackburn, James Murphy kept his side close with some slashing drives and solid defence.
With the game tightening up, Knox looked to their bench for a lift. When Liam Parkinson came in, made a deep two and followed it up with a corner three, Knox had pushed their lead back out to 5. At half-time, the Raiders led 17-12. For the Raiders, missed free-throws in the first half had the game closer than it should have been.
In the second half, the Vikings started slow and Knox threatened to blow the game apart. Thanks to a determined effort on the glass and some crafty work from Raiders guard Daniel Tester, Knox went on a 7-3 run and had Blackburn on the ropes. But as all good sides do, the Vikings rallied.
When James Pell made a big three-pointer and Nick Murphy scored four quick points, Blackburn were back within three-points and Knox were forced to call a time-out.
For Knox, the time to fire was now. When Scott Davies lined up his second three of the half and nailed it from the corner, Knox had pushed the lead back to six and led 30-24 with less than five minutes remaining.
Blackburn’s James Murphy, who had threatened to blow the game apart all night, turned it on in the last part of the quarter and scored nine of his 13 points in the last five minutes.
With the lead back to two-points with just under a minute to play, Rosa went to the line for the Raiders with a chance to put the game away. As the finals pressure mounted, Rosa failed to convert on both and the door was left ajar for one last Blackburn surge.
When Sam Bellis went to the line with no time left on the clock, the air was sucked out of the stadium as a stunned crowd waited to discover the future of their respective teams. When Bellis narrowly missed the first, Knox were home.
For the Raiders, those missed free-throws threatened to come back to haunt them but through some stifling defence and superior offense, Knox were able to climb out of a hole. Scott Davies scored 11 points for Knox while Rose chipped in seven. For Blackburn, James Murphy played well in a losing effort with 13 points to lead all scorers while his teammate James Pell contributed 9.
The Raiders go on to face Coburg next Friday night for a spot in the grand-final while the Vikings are left to rue what might have been.
GIRLS UNDER 14 - VICTORIAN JUNIOR LEAGUE 1
First Semi-Final – Court 7, Dandenong Basketball Stadium (29.8)
Frankston 3 – 41 dft Warrandyte – 29
In the first semi-final for Junior League One, Frankston 3 and Warrandyte fought out a tough battle at Dandenong Basketball Stadium.
For Frankston, a determined defensive approach forced Warrandyte out of their comfort zone. With a number of fast-break points resulting from the defensive pressure, Frankston were able to outlast their opponents and run away to a 41-29 victory. While Warrandyte’s season comes to an end, Frankston must not prepare for a Preliminary Final dual with Craigieburn.
Friday night’s match began well for Frankston, who managed to spread the floor well and continually find the open man. Bethany James, who scored four points on two straight drives to the basket, got Frankston off to a good start. When Clare Woods made a three-pointer from the corner, the lead was 13-8 and Warrandyte were searching for an answer.
While most of the traffic went Frankston’s way early, Crystal Kaye and Demi Joy constantly crashed the offensive glass and kept the Frankston defence honest. But when Frankston’s tall timber got going, Warrandyte were stunned. When Chloe Smith, who scored often from the low-post, made back-to-back baskets then found Woods for another two, the Frankston lead was up to 11, 19-8.
Crystal Kaye grabbed another rebound and scored for Warrandyte before the main break and kept her teams hopes alive. At half-time, Frankston led 21-10.
In the second half, a different Warrandyte side emerged from the bench. With an improved determination, Warrandyte went on a 5-0 run as Megan Keppel made a three-pointer, stole the ball and made a pair of free-throws.
As Frankston had done all night, when their opponents made a run, the girls had an answer. Another basket from Bethany James and a three-point play from Chloe Smith restored Frankston’s lead and again kept Warrandyte at bay. When Mikaela Rutter made a long two-point shot from the top of the key, the Frankston’s coach was pumping his fists in the air.
Warrandyte’s Lauren Ricci and Maddy Hallett continued to penetrate Frankston’s defence in the second half and forced a number of fouls but failed to score over their opponents’ long arms.
Frankston’s Chloe Smith closed out the second half with some dominant play inside, scoring in the post twice in a couple of minutes. When Clare Woods made yet another three, Frankston were almost home.
In the final minutes, Warrandyte’s Demi Joy refused to give up. Joy hustled on the glass, made four free-throws in a row and played outstanding defence. But when Joy and Hallett made consecutive shots, the damage had been done. Frankston were home. The final result, a 41-29 win, spoke highly of Frankston’s disciplined offense and stifling defence.
Bethany James, who scored early and often for Frankston, led all scorers with 12 points while Chloe James scored 11 important points from the paint. For Warrandyte, Demi Joy was brave all night and led her team with eight.
First Semi-Final – Court 9, Dandenong Basketball Stadium (29.8)
Chelsea – 26 dft Keilor – 25
On Friday night in front of a packed Dandenong Basketball Stadium crowd, Chelsea and Keilor put on one of the displays of the season in Junior League Four Semi-Final action. With a spot in the grand-final up for grabs, neither side left anything on the floor as one-point separated these teams when the final siren sounded.
Friday night’s contest began in see-sawing fashion as both sides made baskets early and the scores were tied at four.
As the first half progressed, it became clear that the battle between the two number 35’s was the key to both team’s chances.
Keilor’s number 35 Brigid Westgarth, a fast guard with great ball-handling skills and Chelsea’s number 35 Casey Shiel, a tall, intimidating centre, went back-and-forth all game and played outstanding basketball for their respective squads.
For Chelsea, Shiel was simply dominant. When she wasn’t grabbing rebounds and scoring, Shiel was blocking shots and creating opportunities for her team. With five blocks in the first half, Shiel was proving a dominant inside force for her side.
For Keilor, Westgarth drove to the hole time and again in the first half. When Chelsea’s Aimee Mills made her second shot of the first half, her side has stretched the lead to five points and led 11-6 at half-time.
In the second half, with her side down five, Keilor’s Brigit Westgarth scored early, stole the ball from Chelsea and created a lay-up for teammate Erica Markesich. When Ellen Wright scored an easy basket off an inbounds pass on the baseline for Keilor, the lead was down to three and Keilor were back in the hunt.
In the final minutes of the game, with the scores becoming close, both sides turned to their stars to get the job done. For Keilor, Westgarth scored again and for Chelsea, Shiel racked up her seventh block of the game. With the scored tied at 24-24, Keilor’s Erica Markesich drove to basket and was fouled. When Markesich went to the line and made only one, the door was left open for Chelsea to swoop in and steal the game. And that’s exactly what happened.
With only seconds remaining on the clock, Chelsea’s Sophie Bogdan grabbed a loose ball under the basket and made the two to gather the lead back for her side in what turned out to be the play of the game. With six seconds remaining, Keilor were unable to create the game-winning play and fell by the slimmest of margins 26-25 in a great display of competitive basketball.
For Chelsea, the combination of Shiel on defence and Mills on offense proved too much. Mills finished with 10 points, leading all scorers on the night. For Keilor, Westgarth scored eight points and tried hard all night.
With Chelsea now heading straight to the grand-final, Keilor get one more chance in the Preliminary Final against Mornington 2 next week.
BOYS UNDER 16 – VICTORIAN JUNIOR LEAGUE 1
First Semi-Final – Court 9, Dandenong Basketball Stadium (29.8)
Knox 2 – 33 dft Blackburn – 31
In a battle befitting the finals atmosphere it was played in, Knox 2 and Blackburn played out one of the games of the season on Friday night. The Raiders, who led for all but the opening moments of the game, survived a late rally from the Vikings, to claw their way to a 33-31 win.
With both sides winning once this season, Friday night’s contest was well and truly up for grabs. Knox, coming off a Quarter Final win over Eltham, started confidently. With Scott Davies operating on the perimeter and Clayton Rosa working hard in the post, the Raiders had two consistent scorers to go to time and again.
When Rosa and Davies combined for two straight baskets early, Knox looked dangerous and established a 10-5 lead. For Blackburn, James Murphy kept his side close with some slashing drives and solid defence.
With the game tightening up, Knox looked to their bench for a lift. When Liam Parkinson came in, made a deep two and followed it up with a corner three, Knox had pushed their lead back out to 5. At half-time, the Raiders led 17-12. For the Raiders, missed free-throws in the first half had the game closer than it should have been.
In the second half, the Vikings started slow and Knox threatened to blow the game apart. Thanks to a determined effort on the glass and some crafty work from Raiders guard Daniel Tester, Knox went on a 7-3 run and had Blackburn on the ropes. But as all good sides do, the Vikings rallied.
When James Pell made a big three-pointer and Nick Murphy scored four quick points, Blackburn were back within three-points and Knox were forced to call a time-out.
For Knox, the time to fire was now. When Scott Davies lined up his second three of the half and nailed it from the corner, Knox had pushed the lead back to six and led 30-24 with less than five minutes remaining.
Blackburn’s James Murphy, who had threatened to blow the game apart all night, turned it on in the last part of the quarter and scored nine of his 13 points in the last five minutes.
With the lead back to two-points with just under a minute to play, Rosa went to the line for the Raiders with a chance to put the game away. As the finals pressure mounted, Rosa failed to convert on both and the door was left ajar for one last Blackburn surge.
When Sam Bellis went to the line with no time left on the clock, the air was sucked out of the stadium as a stunned crowd waited to discover the future of their respective teams. When Bellis narrowly missed the first, Knox were home.
For the Raiders, those missed free-throws threatened to come back to haunt them but through some stifling defence and superior offense, Knox were able to climb out of a hole. Scott Davies scored 11 points for Knox while Rose chipped in seven. For Blackburn, James Murphy played well in a losing effort with 13 points to lead all scorers while his teammate James Pell contributed 9.
The Raiders go on to face Coburg next Friday night for a spot in the grand-final while the Vikings are left to rue what might have been.
GIRLS UNDER 14 - VICTORIAN JUNIOR LEAGUE 1
First Semi-Final – Court 7, Dandenong Basketball Stadium (29.8)
Frankston 3 – 41 dft Warrandyte – 29
In the first semi-final for Junior League One, Frankston 3 and Warrandyte fought out a tough battle at Dandenong Basketball Stadium.
For Frankston, a determined defensive approach forced Warrandyte out of their comfort zone. With a number of fast-break points resulting from the defensive pressure, Frankston were able to outlast their opponents and run away to a 41-29 victory. While Warrandyte’s season comes to an end, Frankston must not prepare for a Preliminary Final dual with Craigieburn.
Friday night’s match began well for Frankston, who managed to spread the floor well and continually find the open man. Bethany James, who scored four points on two straight drives to the basket, got Frankston off to a good start. When Clare Woods made a three-pointer from the corner, the lead was 13-8 and Warrandyte were searching for an answer.
While most of the traffic went Frankston’s way early, Crystal Kaye and Demi Joy constantly crashed the offensive glass and kept the Frankston defence honest. But when Frankston’s tall timber got going, Warrandyte were stunned. When Chloe Smith, who scored often from the low-post, made back-to-back baskets then found Woods for another two, the Frankston lead was up to 11, 19-8.
Crystal Kaye grabbed another rebound and scored for Warrandyte before the main break and kept her teams hopes alive. At half-time, Frankston led 21-10.
In the second half, a different Warrandyte side emerged from the bench. With an improved determination, Warrandyte went on a 5-0 run as Megan Keppel made a three-pointer, stole the ball and made a pair of free-throws.
As Frankston had done all night, when their opponents made a run, the girls had an answer. Another basket from Bethany James and a three-point play from Chloe Smith restored Frankston’s lead and again kept Warrandyte at bay. When Mikaela Rutter made a long two-point shot from the top of the key, the Frankston’s coach was pumping his fists in the air.
Warrandyte’s Lauren Ricci and Maddy Hallett continued to penetrate Frankston’s defence in the second half and forced a number of fouls but failed to score over their opponents’ long arms.
Frankston’s Chloe Smith closed out the second half with some dominant play inside, scoring in the post twice in a couple of minutes. When Clare Woods made yet another three, Frankston were almost home.
In the final minutes, Warrandyte’s Demi Joy refused to give up. Joy hustled on the glass, made four free-throws in a row and played outstanding defence. But when Joy and Hallett made consecutive shots, the damage had been done. Frankston were home. The final result, a 41-29 win, spoke highly of Frankston’s disciplined offense and stifling defence.
Bethany James, who scored early and often for Frankston, led all scorers with 12 points while Chloe James scored 11 important points from the paint. For Warrandyte, Demi Joy was brave all night and led her team with eight.
Last Modified on 01/09/2008 11:47
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