Storm heading to the big dance

A SUCCESSFUL Friday night of games has seen five Bellarine Storm teams through to the ultimate game of their respective Bellarine Peninsula Basketball Association seasons.

After the 12 2 boys and 14 1 boys secured places in their deciders the previous week a further three Storm teams were successful in preliminary finals.

Facing regional rival Corio Bay, the 12 1 boys were confronted with a do-or-die match against the ladder leaders.

In the regular season meetings the two sides split wins, each holding serve on their home court. The third match-up was a tight affair, with the Storm team ultimately prevailing 38-32, putting the Stingrays out of the finals race in straight sets, and earning a match-up with Broadmeadows for the Championship next week.

The Bellarine under 14 2 boys were also up against a crosstown rival this time in Geelong.

Having defeated the Supercats two weeks earlier in the qualifying final, the Storm team had to ensure they were up for the rematch against a hungry Geelong team.

In another close encounter, the cool heads of the Bellarine boys prevailed late in the game holding on to 49-45 score line. The victory creates a grand final decider with Broadmeadows 2 on Saturday night.

The final five format gave another qualifying final rematch for the Bellarine under 21 boys. In the prior match-up, Eltham 2 took the chocolates by a solitary point.

This time would be different though as the Storm demonstrated their learning from the previous encounter.

Bellarine jumped out of the blocks early taking a useful nine-point lead into the first change.

After a tight second quarter Storm dominated the 3rd heading into the final change 16 points to the good.

This lead was never challenged as Bellarine cruised into the big dance and a faceoff with Ringwood 2.

The news wasn’t as good for the 16 1 boys who lost their final against Sunbury 2 38-47, drawing their season to a close.

Missing two key players who have headed off to college in the United States, the 21 girls were also defeated.

Despite the close loss to Sandringham, the girls still have another chance as a result finishing on top of their respective table and their league being one week behind others.

Grand finals will be played on Friday and Saturday night at the neutral venues of Keilor and Werribee.