Saints Women and Roos Men are the Premiers of the South East Coast Basketball League 2018/19 Summer season.

Saints Women, minor premier for season and Roos’ Men, after finishing third in the regulation season. Both Finals were entertaining, high standard and well managed sporting contests.

Saints had their flag hopes dented in the semi-final on their home court when Cougars won the second semi-final convincingly, 75-48, but then turned things around in the Grand Final to win by 4 points 60-56.

In contrast Roos finished third after the 15-week regulation season but secured emphatic wins through the minor finals’ series. This grand final result was an emotional one coach Peter Holmes, adding the Roos’ name to the Barrie Holmes Perpetual Shield. His father, Barrie was an outstanding leader and contributor to local basketball over many years.

Saints set up a 7-point lead at quarter time after a strong tussle at both ends and continued through to half time when Saints hung on to a 5-point lead. Emily Winter and Tenille Gray worked tirelessly to give their respective teams a degree of control. Hannah Nitschke scored twice to spark a run by Saints in the opening minutes of the third quarter. Maddie Haggett, Emily and Georgia Winter then stepped up to 41-27 lead. Not to be denied, Michaela Horrigan, Tenille Gray and Eva Bonde haltered the run and kept Cougars in touch at three quarter time, 49-37.

It was “game on” with 5 minutes to play after Cougars lifted in offence to score 11 points without a reply by Saints and trail by just two points. Tension increased for Saints as Emily Winter fouled out and several challenges had Cougars within a single point but scores from the foul line by Haggett and Nitschke took the final margin to 4, 60-56 in Saints’ favour. Tenille Gray scored a game high 19 points while Emily Winter finished with 14 and was judged Most Valuable Player in the Grand Final.

Saints’ coach Peter Seebohm, commended his players on the way in which they had come to terms with the semi-final loss and regrouped for this game. “The loss two weeks ago probably added to their determination not to have a repeat tonight” he added. He also commented on the League and the standard of play being maintained, a situation not available to many other Country SA Basketball Associations.   

The Roos- Panthers Men’s grand final took on a different look as Panthers lined up without prolific scorer Kyle Tipene, who travelled to Gladstone Queensland the day before, to play in the winter along with Jak Ryan not suiting up. Team-mates Brad Rathjen and Kurt Rodis showed however that the team was ready for the contest and were busy for Panthers in the opening quarter which resulted in a two- point lead. Matt Sutton asserted authority on the game with three consecutive scores to start the second quarter and take the lead.     

At the 7-minute mark scores were level on 24 points, then Sutton and Makuer led a 16-0 point run to see the scoreboard reading 40-24. The experience of Kurt Russell and David Lloyd contributed to this critical break. In the last minute of the quarter, scores by Rodis, Jaidyn Lawrence and Rathjen closed the margin to 8 at the main break.

Roos continued their control in the third quarter until Panthers Coach Jak Ryan called a time out and his players responded to have the margin 5 and keep their chances alive. Roos however steadied to lead 58-46 at three quarter time.

Sutton and Makuer extended Roos’ lead to 15 points and possibly a hand on the title at the 2-minute mark of the final quarter. Panthers made one last surge and closed the gap to 4 points in the final minute only to see Sutton again steady his side for a 70-64 win to Roos. Matt Sutton’s tally of 26 points and his on- court leadership earnt him MVP for the final. Bard Rathjen on 27 points and Kurt Rodis on 17 led the scoring for Panthers.

Roos coach Peter Holmes congratulated his players on their performances over the season and commended them on achieving the aim to have the Club back at the top. He also spoke about the future of both Clubs with their talented stock of juniors. 

Panthers coach Jak Ryan acknowledged the win by Roos and also congratulated his players on the way they all lifted to cover the loss of Tipene and contested right to the final siren.         

 

2018/19 MOST VALUABLE PLAYER AWARDS.

Winners of the 2018/19 SECBL Most Valuable Player Awards went to the two premiership players named as MVP’s for the grand Finals, Emily Winter of Saints and Matt Sutton of Roos. Winter scored 18 votes and Tenille Gray was next with 14. Sutton scored 26 votes followed by Lachlan Hunter of Bulldogs Red on 24 votes.

Both players have had stellar seasons and have been key players as on court leaders throughout the season.

Emily has been an outstanding player at local, Association and state levels during her junior career and is now making her mark as a senior player, firstly as a member of the Millicent CBL champions and now in the Pioneers’ Women’s team playing in the Basketball SA Premier League.

Matt Sutton, in contrast, is probably one of the most talented and successful players to complete full seasons of SECBL. This prestigious award is his second in his two years of playing with Roos. He is a former captain of the Pioneers, who have recorded unbelievable successes in recent years.

Two perpetual awards are presented to the juniors scoring most MVP in the SECBL competitions. This season there was a tie in the Sally-Jane Allen/ Trisha Flett  Trophy. Ellen Brown of Roos/ Bulldogs and Emily Close of Panthers shared the Award. Panther’s talented junior Oliver Thomson won the Bill Cook Award.