Finals time in SECBL KNT Netball

Minor round action finished up last week

Last Wednesday, Round 15, the curtain came down on the minor round of the 2023 SECBL Winter season. The highlight of the night was the awesome support of the Naracoorte basketball community to the staging of the SECBL men’s game between Bulldogs White and league leader Millicent Saints on the Kings’ home court. This response is likely to trigger the idea of playing SECBL games in other regional centres in the coming summer season.

Saints men and women are dual minor premiers. All roads will therefore lead to Millicent next Wednesday where the top two teams of each competition will contest the major semi finals in which hosts Saints meet Bulldogs. ROUND 15 RESULTS.

MEN

The game between Saints and Bulldogs White, the highlight of the round, was a big winner in two respects; firstly, for league leader Saints and secondly, for local basketball. A crowd of around 100 spectators flocked to the Naracoorte Basketball stadium to witness this final round of the 2023 Winter SECBL Season. Saints’ Mules, Bowden and Haggett took a grip on the outcome after a close and competitive first half.

Mules continues to light up the score board in recent weeks while local player Matt Black displayed his exceptional skills resulting in a personal tally of 28 points. SAINTS 108 (H. Mules 35, J.

Bowden 25, J. Haggett 14) d BULLDOGS WHITE 67 (M. Black 28, M. Garwood 13, D. Handreck 13) After a somewhat rough start to the season, Cougars continued to improve and finished the season on a high, a result of their exciting win against Roos. Margins at the first three breaks was just one or two points and then stretched to six on the final siren. Promising Cougars junior, Ollie Pohlner had a night out, bagging 26 points including six threes. Toby deWit has been the key player for Cougars this season.

COUGARS 86 (T.deWit 27, O. Pohlner 26, O. Marr-McGuire 10) d ROOS 82 (Z. Nulty 27, N. Forbes 24, J. Wilkinson 8). Bulldogs Blue, although missing Ben Young had the answers against Panthers. Talented guard, Olie Thomson led Panthers in a standout second half but Blue retained control on the back of strong performances from ever-green Simon Berkefeld and consistent Duncan Reid.

BULLDOGS BLUE 83 (S. Berkefeld 26, D. Reid 18, H. Wright 12, Sam Lock 12) d PANTHERS 70 (O. Thomson 32, K.Tipene 25, T. Brumby 5)

WOMEN

An 18-4 first quarter set up Saints’ win, even though Cats showed resilience and bounced back into the game through Tayla Rowe and Alana Berkefeld.

SAINTS 65 (M. Burke 22, P. Paul 17, A. Dean 12) d CATS 59. (T. Rowe 20, A. Berkefeld 17, M. Fauchelle 17) Roos are hitting top form at the right time as trio Cara Nulty, Ellie Bouchier and Stella Mobbs are getting the job done. In contrast, Ava Collins continues to singlehandedly shoulder the load for Bulldogs. Roos’ performances in recent weeks suggest that they may have a big influence on finals’ outcomes.

ROOS 62 (E. Bouchier 28, S. Mobbs 17, C. Nulty 15) d BULLDOGS 56 (A. Collins 23, S. Adams 9, M. Anderson 8, T. Human 8)

Cougars were more efficient in converting offensive plays and even without Sarah Ritter had the game in safe keeping by half time. Panthers however maintained defensive pressure to deny a “blow out” result.

COUGARS 72 (M. Horrigan 20, A. Beveridge 18, T. Crouch 10) d PANTHERS 45 (A. Duncan 14, N. Facey 12, T. Bryant 12).

LADDER MEN:

SAINTS 41
BULLDOGS BLUE 38
PANTHERS 33
ROOS 26
COUGARS 18
BULLDOGS WHITE 16

LADDER WOMEN:

SAINTS 35
BULLDOGS 33
COUGARS 3
ROOS 28
CATS 27
PANTHERS 20

SEMI-FINALS SCHEDULE MEN:

Wednesday September 6.
8.15pm Peter Seebohm Stadium.
Saints v Bulldogs Blue
7.15pm Wulanda 2
Panthers v Roos.

WOMEN:
6.45pm Peter Seebohm Stadium
Saints v Bulldogs.
7.15pm Wulanda 1
Cougars v Roos.