Ballan Brumbies Basketball

Grand Final weekend in the Ballarat Basketball Association saw five Ballan Brumbies Junior teams take to the court, with two senior sides to play their grand finals mid-week.

Last Friday night the Under 16 Boys E took on top of the table Phoenix Kings, the favoured Kings only loss coming against Ballan on a Xavier Winter buzzer beater mid-season.

Phoenix looked to implement their physical style early, Clayton Geddes getting to the foul line in his typical battering ram style. Instantly Ballan coach Jason Handrek urged his big men in Johl Porter, Joe Seketa and Winter to stay vertical and let the contact come to them, it proved a wise tactical choice.

Ballan got on the board through a Winter scoop and a James Prosser reverse layup before Winter hit a pair of tough layups to give Ballan an early 8-2 lead.

Ballan’s vaunted 3-2 zone defense baffled Phoenix who simply had no idea what to do with their usual direct attacks blunted. When they did try to attack the sides of the defense, Laz Agius and Rhys Mitchell, with some help from Prosser, controlled their wings well.

When Phoenix did get inside, Ballan’s big men stayed patient and didn’t bite on fakes. With their usual physical style not working, Phoenix was becoming visibly frustrated.

Porter and Prosser hit layups late in the half to give Ballan a 14-4 lead at the break, Phoenix’s league best offense brought to a standstill.

With the pro-Phoenix crowd quietened, the favorites needed a lift. They got it through Jordan Krammer and Geddes, who scored a quick eight points between them as Phoenix closed the margin to four points with 12 minutes remaining. Ballan’s offense started to bog down as offensive catalyst Winter went cold.

Enter Prosser and Porter, who both scored key baskets to get the Brumbies back on track. Porter asserted his dominance on the offensive glass; his put backs and Prosser’s slashing drives restored Ballan’s advantage. Their defensive intensity again picked up as the Brumbies sensed they again had control of proceedings.

A late Prosser three point play saw the final margin stretch to 14 as Ballan secured the championship with a 29-15 win.