THE future of Geelong United basketball looks in safe hands, with the club\u2019s under-18 boys crowned the top team in regional Victoria for the second straight year after winning the 2022 Junior Country Championships.<\/p>\n
Geelong defeated hosts Bendigo Braves in the top-age division one final, with a dominant last quarter setting up a 55-36 win.<\/p>\n
Joe Pike, from local club YMCA, top scored in the final with 16 points, with Jack Connolly (YMCA) also in double figures with 12.<\/p>\n
Bailey Bruce (YMCA) top scored for the tournament, averaging 11.3 points over his team\u2019s six games, including a high of 28 points in the pool-stage win over Wonthaggi.<\/p>\n
United defeated Bellarine, Mildura and Wonthaggi to reach the division one finals.<\/p>\n
The team rode its luck early on Sunday, when a buzzer-beating shot from Shepparton rolled around the rim before falling out for Geelong to escape with a 55-53 win.<\/p>\n
Geelong\u2019s semi-final also had a dramatic finish. United came from eight points behind with three minutes left to take the lead in the dying seconds, before a timekeeping error allowed Ballarat to score a late basket.<\/p>\n
The Miners thought they had scored a match-winning three-pointer but the referee ruled the shot a two, forcing overtime, in which Geelong prevailed 47-44 to advance to the final.<\/p>\n
Under-18 boys coach Tim O\u2019Leary said a team-first ethos had propelled Geelong to its tournament victory.<\/p>\n
\u201cAll tournaments are hard to win, but to win six games in two games is especially tough,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe could have played our best players all week and probably not made the grand final.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s not about just providing the opportunities for individuals to shine, it\u2019s about the team, and that\u2019s what Geelong United is all about.\u201d<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, United\u2019s under-16 boys team also returned with silverware after winning its division two final, with a 46-43 triumph over Whittlesea.<\/p>\n
Geelong\u2019s under-18 girls side reached the division two grand final but went down to Traralgon, 38-29, while the under-16 girls lost their division one quarter final to the same opponents, 36-30.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
THE future of Geelong United basketball looks in safe hands, with the club\u2019s under-18 boys crowned the top team in regional Victoria for the second straight year after winning the 2022 Junior Country Championships. Geelong defeated hosts Bendigo Braves in the top-age division one final, with a dominant last quarter setting up a 55-36 win. […]<\/p>\n