Ballan Brumbies Basketball

IT has been an up and down start to the season for Ballan Brumbies Under 16 Boys B, a group expected to compete for the championship.

After a terrible performance last week, they were looking for a bounce back against Wildcats.

Barney Batiste returned to the line-up, though fellow centre Angus Tranter was out injured.

Ballan started the game well with point guard Jack Clark scoring on the drive before setting up Batiste for a finish inside, the big man sealing his defender expertly.

Nixon Manea’s bullocking drive to the hoop were causing issues for Ballan with both Batiste and James Pace picking up quick fouls, a potential issue with Ballan playing without a bench.

The Brumbies were playing stifling defence, contesting shots at the rim, and generally covering the perimeter well, though when both Pace and Batiste picked up another foul each with only eight minutes played, the Brumbies had to be very careful.

Pace was taking advantage of Wildcats’ aggressive man-to-man defence, slicing at the basket for layups. When he didn’t score, he was inevitably fouled, making all four of his free throws for the half.

Ballan, in fact, were living at the free throw line, repeatedly drawing shooting fouls. A Fletcher Garner free throw closed the half, Ballan leading 18-11.

It was a similar tale to open the second period, Pace making both of his free throws to open the scoring, Manea picking up his fourth foul. A Lucas Polanske free throw was Wildcats only point over the opening eight minutes of the half as Ballan started to ease the lead out.

Clark hit a floater, the diminutive Garner scored well inside amongst the trees and Batiste converted from an offensive rebound.

When Pace made a free throw (his miss on the shot prior his only blemish from 12 attempts), the Brumbies held a 27-12 advantage and had the game in the palm of their hands.

Polanske and a three from Isaac Curtis-Panozzo gave Wildcats some respite, though back-to-back Cruze Miller baskets, the second coming after rebounding his own missed three-point attempt, saw Ballan restore their advantage.

Curtis-Panozzo attempted to single handedly drag Wildcats back into the contest in the latter stages, hitting three more threes to give him five treys on the night, though a corner three from Miller and power and guile of Pace inside allowed Ballan to answer the Wildcats’ counterpunches.

In an entertaining match that was played in fine spirit, Ballan prevailed 52-39 and with their full squad set to play together for the first time all season next Friday, their season is hopefully back on track.

Under 12 Boys

Ballan F 32 def Phoenix Admirals 9

Ballan D 33 def Drummo Dragons 18

Ballan C 39 def Wildcats 29

Under 12 Girls

Ballan C 4 lost Excies Acmy 28

Under 14 Boys

Ballan A 41 lost Saints Knicks 64

Ballan C 34 def Wildcats 30

Ballan E 44 def Sovereign Knights 14

Under 14 Girls

Ballan E 9 lost Phoenix Vixens 15