Ballan Brumbies Basketball

It was something of a bittersweet night on Tuesday for the Ballan Brumbies Basketball Club, with a close win and a thumping loss for the two Men’s teams playing in Grand Finals.

The Division 2 and Division 3 Brumbies both took to Selkirk Court in Wendouree on Tuesday 13 September, with the Division 2 side facing Team ACU, and the Division 3 side facing Misfits.

The Division 3 Grand Final was sure to be a close one, with the Brumbies coming in as slight favourites, finishing on top of the ladder, and winning both regular season matches against Misfits by tight three-point margins.

But the Brumbies were without their rebounding machine Tibor Lehocky this time around, though defensive ace Nico Naranjo had recovered from a rib injury in time to return to the line-up.

Misfits looked to assert their size dominance early, getting the ball to big men Jack Gunn and Kyle Cushion, the latter scoring the game’s first basket, and Archie Kiellerup following up with a long two. Ballan got on the scoreboard through a short jump shot by Fergus McCausland off a neat out of bounds play. Trent Wall added a corner three pointer.

When Ballan’s only genuine big man, Sam McMahon, had to sit after picking up his third foul midway through the half, Ballan looked awfully small. But the Brumbies countered that by stepping up their defensive intensity at the point of attack, Wall and Ryan Borri forcing a series of turnovers out of Misfits.

McCausland scored on fast breaks either side of a tough Naranjo layup. When Misfits were able to slow Ballan down, Oscar Marionn kept the scoreboard ticking over with his straight-line drives to the basket.

Ballan’s strong finish to the half saw them lead 14-13.

In the second half, as has been typical of the two sides through their previous meetings, neither side was able to break out offensively. Ballan re-doubled their defensive efforts in the paint, whilst Misfits, confident that their superior size could control the key, focused on pressuring Ballan’s ball carriers.

McMahon picked up his fourth foul early in the half, allowing Misfits to take control of the game. Misfits were able to string together baskets through Cushion and a pair of three pointers to Jordan Holloway and Abraham Jones, taking a five-point lead along the way.

Ballan needed a spark and got it from veteran Jarrod Prosser, who found Marion with a sharp pass for a layup before hitting a long jump shot. Ballan’s defence again picked up with their small ball line-up scrambling to cover Misfits shooters. Importantly, Ballan started to take control of the boards, Borri and Prosser working hard against bigger bodies.

Ballan forced another turnover, this time Wall credited with the steal. He fed McCausland who was sent to the line, though he missed both free throws, keeping hopes alive for Misfits.

Again, Ballan’s defence came through, Wall and McMahon combined to force a travel out of Jones. Ballan was then able to hold the ball for the final 20 or so seconds to secure the young club’s second senior championship with a 28 – 24 victory.

However, in the Division 2 Grand Final, the Brumbies unfortunately played their worst game of the season.

They looked utterly disjointed and were never in the hunt against a rampant ACU, going down 26 – 52.