Girls bring home premiership

Ballan Brumbies Basketball

With a record seven teams making grand finals, it was a bittersweet weekend for Ballan Brumbies, with just one team coming through to win a championship. The squad that did win – the under 12 girls – came through in one of the most extraordinary matches you might ever witness.

Coming in as a marginal favorites against Saints Mystics, Brumbies started well with league leading scorer Victoria Taylor getting the opening bucket, followed quickly by a Millie Grech free throw.

From there, though, Saints began to run rampant.

Emmi Nairn, Saints leading scorer on the season, started to have an impact with a couple of quick baskets and a pair of Ava Vallance free throws stretched Saints lead out. Nairn again connected as Saints were dominant; Ballan’s offense running ice cold.

Taylor was being kept under lock and key by a combination of Nairn and Emma Brown. With their offensive focal point struggling, Grech, Brandi Mulgrew and Grace Monterosso stepped up, all getting into scoring positions though none were able to connect.

When Brown scored a few seconds before the end of the half, Saints found themselves in a commanding position, leading 13-3.

Things looked bleak for Ballan when Nairn and Vallance scored the first two baskets of the 2nd half, a 17-3 lead looking insurmountable.

The Brumbies, though, began to dig in. An Emma Karimi deflection saw Ballan break and though the initial action was halted, the ball eventually found its way to Taylor, who scored on a short baseline jumper.

Grech and Monterosso began to double team the Saints ball handlers, creating passes that were easy to pick off. Another Karimi deflection saw Mulgrew gather the loose ball and get up the floor for another basket, as the tide began to turn.

Esther Seketa then picked up a loose ball, weaving her way through the defense for a basket. Monterosso quickly added to the score, as the Brumbies started to believe.

A potential disaster struck as Monterosso, the emotional heartbeat of the team, fouled out with eight minutes remaining. Coach Heath Cooper quickly called a time-out to settle the girls and steel them for one final push.

With Saints in foul trouble, Taylor and Mulgrew started to drive hard to the basket, creating contact and getting to the free throw line, both girls shooting unusually well from the stripe.

Saints faced their own setback as star player Nairn fouled out. With their primary scoring option off the floor, Saints began to panic. Brown tried to pick up the slack but with Ballan’s defense keying in on her, she wasn’t able to make the tough shots she was forced to attempt.

Mulgrew was a force on the defensive glass, corralling rebound after rebound. She was either quick to draw a foul or get the ball to Taylor, herself then finding contact. With both players living at the free throw line, Ballan were whittling down Saints lead….ever….so….slowly.

With under two minutes to play, Seketa fed Taylor under the basket. She was fouled, hitting one of two to tie the ball game.

Saints broke through Ballan’s first defensive line but then threw a panicked pass that fell to Seketa who instantly fed Mulgrew. She drew another foul and, with the championship on the line, knocked down the back end of her free throws to give the Brumbies the lead and complete a most unlikely turnaround.

Brumbies defense held firm to flat out steal the championship from a stunned Saints side, in one of the most incredible comebacks you will ever witness.

The Brumbies girls were victorious, 18-17.

RESULTS – Grand Finals
Under 10 Boys
Ballan D 12 lost Drummo Dragons 21
Under 12 Boys
Ballan E 18 lost Saints Suns 22
Ballan C 28 lost Excies Acmy 42
Under 12 Girls
Ballan 18 def Saints Mystics 17
Under 14 Boys
Ballan F 19 lost Phoenix Titans 30
Ballan C 32 lost Wildcats 38
Under 14 Girls
Ballan D 17 lost Phoenix Flames 34
Under 19 Boys
Ballan E 33 lost Phoenix Lions 43