Wildcats survive Pivot City charge to secure Grand Final spot

WILDCATS Basketball Club is one win away from being crowned Geelong United’s RL Signs Men’s Winter Championship champions, staving off a late charge from Pivot City, 59-60, at AWA Alliance Bank Stadium last night (Tuesday, September 5).

Wildcats led by as much as 13 points in the fourth quarter, before a string of Pivot City baskets tightened the gap in the final minutes of the Qualifying Final.

Pivot City would fall one point short, meaning it now needs to win next week’s Semi-Final to earn a spot in the Grand Final.

Wildcats took the early lead, edging their noses in front 14-17 at the first intermission.

Wildcats created a bit of separation in the second quarter, outscoring Pivot City 18-20 and holding a 32-37 lead at the main break.

Both sides emerged from half-time with a defensive mindset, with only 16 combined points put up in the third period and Wildcats again extending their advantage to double-digits (36-49).

Pivot City led their charge to try to steal the match, outscoring Wildcats 23-11, but the damage was done and the Wildcats earned a week off.

Corey Jones led the way for Wildcats with a team-high 15 points, while William Jones (11 points) and Jackson McDonald (10 points) were the side’s only other players to achieve double-digit totals.

Geelong United NBL1 representative Ethan Blythe handled most of Pivot City’s scoring, putting up 27 in the loss. Bellarine Storm guard Max Kos scored 12 points.

Wildcats now head to the Men’s Championship Grand Final at AWA Bank Stadium in two weeks’ time on September 17.

Pivot City returns to the venue next Tuesday for the Preliminary Final.

Quarter by quarter:
Pivot City: 14, 32, 26, 59
Wildcats: 17, 37, 49, 60

Scoring free-for-all ends in Coasters win

DEFENCE was a low priority on Tuesday night in the Championship Men’s Elimination Final between Surfcoasters Basketball Club and Lara Giants, as the two clubs scored a combined 243 points in the game.

Surfcoasters emerged triumphant in the scorefest, winning the encounter 136-107 and keeping its season alive for another week, led by Spencer Smith’s 33 points.

The affair started off on a neutral pace, as the Coasters attained the quarter-time lead, 23-20.

Scoring frequency then intensified in the second quarter and didn’t let up from there. The Coasters narrowly edged out Lara in points 34-33 to lead by four at half-time (57-53)

The men from Torquay then found their rhythm in the second half on the defensive end, catching the Giants off-guard on the fast break and getting crucial stops.

Surfcoasters scored 39 points in the third period and then backed it up with 40 points in the fourth to cap off a 79-54 second half to comfortably end Lara’s season.

Smith’s 33 points was a team high for the Coasters with five others achieving totals more than 10 points.

Mitchell Smith ended the night with 27 points, Clancy Whelan with 23, William McPherson with 21 Ethan Nicholls with 16 and Vincent Whelan with 14.

Lara’s Jackson Bentley had a game-high 34 points, while Jack Burnett’s 26 points and Declan Coles’ 15 points rounded out the Giants’ top performers.

Surfcoasters will play Pivot City in next week’s Preliminary Final with the winner to meet Wildcats in the 2024 Grand Final.

Lara’s season ends after making the top four with a record of 10 wins and nine losses.