Grand finals return to Icehouse

A big crowd of vocal spectators attended the SECBL Grand Final Day conducted at the Bern Bruning Stadium on Sunday, August 25.

The grand finals were moved from their regulation Wednesday night because of clashes with a school event and the pre-season NBL game being played at Wulanda.

The night unfolded as a fitting end to another successful season, despite a busy period on the local sporting calendar.

The condensed finals series saw Cougars Women, following a win over Roos and Saints, eventually recording a comfortable win over a below full strength Bulldogs, face off in the women’s grand final on Sunday.

This game quickly became a typical finals basketball contest reflecting a relatively high standard dominated to a fair extent by defence.

Coaches Melissa Russell and Damian Venn both applied sustained defensive pressure on their respective opponents. At the first break Cougars led 12-10.

The second quarter became another defensive grind in which players from both sides were forced to take shots under pressure.

Pioneer Keryl Ousey, go-to player for Cougars had just three points at the main break being well held by Saints state junior Ashlee Dean.

Ambah Beveridge used her pace to convert opportunities for Cougars.

Edie Easterbyand Poppy Venn lifted the momentum to have Saints trailing by two points, going into the final 10 minutes.

From here on Cougars showed composure and took control, while Saints were desperate, sometimes not choosing high percentage shots.

Keryl Ousey and Ambah Beveridge each score six points in Cougars 16- point quarter, while Saints could only muster six.

Saints’ Ashlee Dean was named MVP for the Grand Final, after her strong and effective defensive efforts inside the paint.

The men’s grand finalists had contrasting entries in to the final game of the season.

Panthers, not at full strength, scored easily against a gallant Cougars, who missed the strong work of injured junior Albert Peters.

Bulldogs, on the other hand, were involved in a contest of attrition against Saints in their semi-final.

Each team had the bare five players, a couple in each not fully fit.

Bulldogs set up an eight point lead early and hung on to it despite several surges from Saints. Harry Wright did well to hold Jackson Bowden to 10 points while ever-green Simon Berkefeld scored a game high 32 points.

Reliable Duncan Reid, nursing an injured ankle did not suit up for Bulldogs and injured, promising Teangi Stephens was missing from the Panthers’ squad on Sunday night.

It was all Bulldogs in the first half of the final as they took full advantage of Panthers’ ineffective zone defence.

Simon Berkefeld and Sam Lock were seen at their best, making baskets from all points of the compass.

It was vintage Berkefeld, having 29 points at half time and Sam Lock scored 14 in the second quarter.

Scores suggested that Bulldogs were in control and likely to pull off an upset, leading 58-44 at this stage.

Panthers knuckled down early in the third, led by Kyle Tipene and stronger work inside by brothers Hein Rob and Mason along with Brad Jachmann, closed the margin to minimum points before a further 15 point haul by Berkefeld had the margin back to six at the final break.

After a truly magnificent effort Bulldogs could not hang on after five minute mark and took the lead with four to play, then went on to score a somewhat lucky win, 99-92.

The highlight of the game was the personal tally of 47 points built by the unassuming Simon Berkefeld, who is consistency personified in his basketball achievements. He was deservedly named MVP of the Grand Final.

GRAND FINAL RESULTS

WOMEN:

COUGARS 57 (Ambah Beveridge 16, Keryl Ousey 13, Mikaela Horrigan 12) d SAINTS 45 (Edie Easterby 12, Poppy Venn 8, Lillie Paul 7)

MEN:

PANTHERS 99 (Taj Brumby 27, Kyle Tipene 23, Oliver Thomson 17) d BULLDOGS 92 (Simon Berkefeld 47, Sam Lock 18. Harry Wright 14).

PHOTO COURTESY OF TANIA MILLARD (3 POINT PHOTOGRAPHY)