The last time Ballan Brumbies under 19 Boys C met Phoenix Rangers, they lit up the Brumbies usually stout defense to the tune of 61 points including an incredible 11 three pointers. Could they do it again? Would Ballan bounce back?<\/p>\n
The early stages of this match proved that at the very least Phoenix were not going to have their way at the offensive end, as Ballan\u2019s defense forced the ladder leaders into a series of tough, contested jumpers. If not for a fluky Campbell Taylor banked three, Phoenix might have been held scoreless through the opening few minutes. The issue for the Brumbies was at the other end of the floor, where they were generating good looks but were unable to convert. Ballan\u2019s three balls were off the mark and the long arms of Phoenix centre James Triantafyllopoulos were erasing everything at the rim.<\/p>\n
Both teams took some time to find some sort of rhythm, with Fergus McCausland and James Burton finding a little bit of space to score in the paint for Ballan. A James Gorman three pointer saw the Brumbies take a 15-11 lead but a quick Phoenix burst, saw them holding a narrow 16-15 lead at the half.<\/p>\n
Ballan kept up their defensive pressure in the second half. Ballan big\u2019s Ryan Pearce and Sam Lillie took advantage, asserting themselves on the glass as the Brumbies started to gain some control over proceedings.<\/p>\n
McCausland and Sam Cooper picked off some loose Stevens passes that saw the Brumbies able to get out into the open court. Cooper and Gorman connected for a pair of baskets, whilst McCausland went all the way himself as Ballan started to ease the lead out. Phoenix responded through a pair of Tyson Schillito corner threes to bring themselves back in touch.<\/p>\n
With just two minutes remaining and Ballan leading by two points the match witnessed a pair of key moments. Pearce missed the resulting free throws, Phoenix fumbled the rebound out of bounds. Of the resulting inbounds play, Pearce found himself wide open on the wing with a driving lane in front of him. Instead of attacking the basket he chose the death-or-glory three pointer\u2026.nothing but net.<\/p>\n
That huge basket saw Phoenix\u2019s players spirits finally broken as Ballan ran out 36-29 winners in a tight, fascinating contest.<\/p>\n
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