Saints dominate decider

WHILST both Saints and Cougars were considered genuine contenders prior to the South East Coast Basketball League (SECBL) women’s grand final, the final margin was completely unexpected.

A feature of the game was the sustained tough team defence applied by second ranked Saints from the outset.

These efforts delivered immediate results as Cougars managed nine points for the opening quarter while Edie Easterby led a productive 21 points from Saints.

This full court pressure took its toll in the second quarter as Cougars managed only six points to 15 by Saints, setting up a commanding 41-15 score line at the main break.

The occasion of the night and intensity resulted in higher levels of physicality and team foul counts higher than normal.

Cougars’ Georgia Gentile took no further part in the game after an injury in the first half.

The teams traded baskets in the second half, after the heat went out of the game, each recording 35 points.

Saints 75 (Poppy Venn 25, Edie Easterby 17, Mylee Lynch 11) d Cougars 44 (Sarah Ritter 14, Ambah Beveridge 12, Lucy Egan 8)

MVP Grand Final: Edie Easterby (Saints)

2024/25 Summer MVP: Edie Easterby (Saints) 18 votes

Other prominent vote getters: Sarah Ritter (Cougars) 14 votes, Casey Horrigan (Cougars) 14points, Mikaela Horrigan (Cougars) 12 votes, Shayden Russell (Cougars) 12 votes, Poppy Venn (Saints) 10 votes.Sally-Jane Allen/Trisha Flett Memorial Award (Best Under 21 Player): Shayden Russell (Cougars)

In the first three quarters of the men’s SECBL title decider, things fell into place for Panthers, who finished second in season rankings; in contrast, Bulldogs struggled to score with their usual consistency.

Contrary to previous weeks, Panthers made a productive start; Oli Thomson quickly asserted his authority through his skills and had the scoreboard moving, then Kyle Tipene dominated the closing minutes of the opening quarter.

Bulldogs coach Shaun Lock, on the other hand, worked tirelessly to lift his players.

Evergreen Simon Berkefeld all but singlehandedly kept the scoreboard ticking over for Bulldogs in the second quarter, while Panthers, led by Taj Brumby added another 27 points to their total and hence set up a seemingly comfortable margin of 18 points leading into the final 10 minutes of the summer season.

Despite the result appearing in Panthers’ hands, Bulldogs had other ideas; they threw caution to the wind and created their own opportunities with Lock and Simon Berkefeld showing the way.

This forced Panthers to go away from their team plan of the previous quarters. Bulldogs ran out of time in their whirlwind 27-13 final quarter, resulting in a somewhat lucky four point win by Panthers at the final siren.

Panthers 89 (Kyle Tipene 28, Oliver Thomson 25, Taj Brumby 21) d Bulldogs 85 (Shaun Lock 27, Simon Berkefeld 27, Harry Wright 8)

MVP Grand Final: Oliver Thomson (Panthers)2024/25 Summer MVP: Taj Brumby (Panthers) 23 votes

Other prominent vote getters: Simon Berkefeld (Bulldogs) 18 votes, Harry Mules (Saints) 15 votes, Kyle Tipene (Panthers) 13 votes, Sam Lock (Bulldogs) 12 votes, Braiden Ousey (Cougars) 11 votes, Oliver Pohlner (Cougars) 10 votes

Bill Cook Memorial Trophy (Best Under 21 Player): Joint Award Winners: Beau Douglas (Saints) & Will Wimshurst (Saints)