Ballan Brumbies Basketball

THE weekend saw Ballan Brumbies take to the court for a new season of basketball action.

The Under 12 Boys D, a side that was not finalised until a few days before the season, met Saints Mavs at the Minerdome.

Not helping matters was the fact that the de facto long weekend resulted in the team playing with only five players due to holidays.

Brumby Eamon Rafferty scored the first basket of the game before Saints reeled off three quick buckets in reply.

Concerningly for Ballan, Eddie Tranter picked up three fouls inside the first five minutes of the game. A George Foulkes layup for Saints was sandwiched by Hamish Rewuk and Jake Meehan scoring inside for Ballan.

With a little over eight minutes played, Tranter picked up his fourth foul, meaning he would walk a tightrope for the rest of the game.

Saints started to pick Ballan off as Tranter was unable to effectively contribute defensively. He did, though, have the play of the game on the half time buzzer, connecting on a long three pointer that cut Ballan’s deficit to five, Brumbies trailing 12 to 17.

Whatever message coach Joe Seketa gave to the boys at halftime worked a treat, because Ballan was a different side after the break.

Ranav Mani picked off a pass and fed Rewuk for a fast break layup before Rewuk returned the favour, setting up Mani inside. Rafferty was starting to win the boards at both ends of the floor, his work on the offensive glass in particular, leading to easy baskets.

With Meehan doing a good job on Foulkes, Saints offense began to dry up, those missed shots, and poor passes saw the Brumbies get out and run.

Rafferty again scored inside as Rewuk began to live at the foul line. The crafty guard connected on six of eight free throws in the second half as Ballan took total control of the contest.

Foulkes and Toby Barwon scored late for Saints to cut the margin but a dominant second half saw the Brumbies take the victory 33 to 27.

Over at Selkirk Stadium, the Under 14 E Girls were up against it before their match with Sovereign Knights had even began.

With three players away, even getting a team on the floor was a struggle, Scarlett O’Brien stepping in to avoid a walkover, though the girls would play one person short for the entire 40 minutes. It mattered for nought.

Grace Monterosso scored on a lovely drive to the hoop, Victoria Taylor quickly adding another basket after some nice passing.

Layla Quinney and Charlie Cooney responded for Knights but Ballan’s dynamic duo of Monetrosso and Taylor again responded. The pair shared Ballan’s 14 first half points – eight to Monterosso, six to Taylor – as the girls took a surprising 14-10 lead into the half.

After the break, things only got better for the girls. Monterosso again scored after a rebound and quick feed from O’Brien, whilst Esther Seketa started to assert herself at both ends.

She picked up back-to-back steals, setting up Taylor from the first and driving all the way to score herself from the next.

She then drove hard to the basket and drew the defense as she put up her shot, Taylor getting a wide open put back as a result.

O’Brien again fed Taylor as the girls put on a splendid display of basketball in the last 10 minutes, running away most comfortable winners, 33 to 14.

Under 10 Boys

Ballan C 8 lost Drummo Dragons 15

Under 12 Boys

Ballan F 26 def Sovereign Knights 21

Ballan D 33 def Saints Mavs 27

Ballan C 68 def Phoenix Eagles 17

Under 14 Boys

Ballan E 17 def Wildcats 15

Ballan C 34 lost Sovereign Knights 40

Under 14 Girls

Ballan E 33 def Sovereign Knights 14

Ballan C 21 def Wildcats 19