With only a few rounds until the finals, the U19 Boys E looked to consolidate top spot on the ladder against Phoenix Commanders.<\/p>\n
The boys started brightly with Noah Young connecting on long jump shots either side of a Jasper Batrouney three, with Phoenix only conjuring a basket from Tahj Mallia in response.<\/p>\n
Ballan were able to keep Phoenix at arms distance for the majority of the first half as Young and Batrouney kept the scoreboard ticking over, big man Chase Ashby proving the primary source of points for Phoenix. Tom Parente was doing a mountain of work at both ends, though couldn\u2019t reward himself with a basket, his streaky shot betraying him on the night.<\/p>\n
However Ballan seemed to switch off late in the half, their defense falling away and their offense becoming a slew of messy one-on-one drives.<\/p>\n
A late Malli three ball gave Phoenix a lead, Noah Pace cutting that lead to a single point, 17-18, right on the half time buzzer.<\/p>\n
With the game in the balance, both squads picked it up on defense to open the 2nd half, though again in was Phoenix who were able to maintain the rage for longer. With Ballan\u2019s offense drying up, Phoenix unleashed a barrage of threes through Mallia, Luke Sanezky and Lucas Graham.<\/p>\n
With just under 10 minutes remaining, Ballan trailed by 10 points, leading to a much needed time out.<\/p>\n
Whatever coach Jason Handrek said in the time out worked a treat as Ballan came out with renewed focus. Batrouney was everywhere on defense and back to his probing best with ball in hand. Young, not always so keen to venture in to the point, barrelled into the key to feed Ethan Boland \u2013 to that point rather anonymous \u2013 for three consecutive buckets as Ballan came storming back into it.<\/p>\n
Batrouney hit a three to put Ballan up by two with about 90 seconds to play only to be answered by Graham, playing a splendid half of basketball.<\/p>\n
With Phoenix\u2019s defense ratcheted all the way up, Ballan were struggling to create an open look to try to take back the lead. Step up Josh Rofe.<\/p>\n
The defensive ace hadn\u2019t even attempted a shot all evening, so when his deep, under pressure three pointer left his hands there was some understandable consternation. The ball, though, kissed in off the glass to give Ballan a one-point lead with about 20 seconds on the clock. Strong defense inside from Parente and Boland saw Ballan steal the ball and the Brumbies were able to run out the clock for a hard fought 39-38 win.<\/p>\n