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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Facing regional rival Corio Bay, the 12 1 boys were confronted with a do-or-die match against the ladder leaders.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
The Bellarine under 14 2 boys were also up against a crosstown rival this time in Geelong.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
This time would be different though as the Storm demonstrated their learning from the previous encounter.<\/p>\n
Bellarine jumped out of the blocks early taking a useful nine-point lead into the first change.<\/p>\n
After a tight second quarter Storm dominated the 3rd heading into the final change 16 points to the good.<\/p>\n
This lead was never challenged as Bellarine cruised into the big dance and a faceoff with Ringwood 2.<\/p>\n
The news wasn\u2019t as good for the 16 1 boys who lost their final against Sunbury 2 38-47, drawing their season to a close.<\/p>\n
Missing two key players who have headed off to college in the United States, the 21 girls were also defeated.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Grand finals will be played on Friday and Saturday night at the neutral venues of Keilor and Werribee.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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 […]<\/p>\n