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2011 Finals reports

Roberts Rockets capped their phenomenal run through the playoffs to capture the Mudgee basketball A grade men’s title downing PCYC/Blowes 47 points to 33 in the grand final at the PCYC on Sunday.

The Rockets were by no means the strongest team in a close fought competition, but urged on by their scoring machine Peter Walsh who scored 31 points, the unsung players in the team rose to the occasion to assist their front man to an unlikely victory.

PCYC/Blowes started on the back foot when Adam Keightley was unable to play, however they still had a line up capable of taking the match and were well in the mix with the scores locked at 33 points all at the final break.

Both teams started nervously in a low scoring first quarter of five points to 4 in Roberts favour but as the second quarter unfolded points started to flow PCYC/Blowes getting a roll on to edge out the Rockets 13 to 12 and tie up the match.

Points were hard to find in third quarter, both sides missing easy baskets, frittering away the chances of taking control of the game, the teams once again level pegging to set up a desperate finish to the match.

While the previous thirty minutes showed no indication of which team was going to win, Roberts Rockets exploded into action in the final quarter, blasting PCYC/Blowes off the court.

In a stunning finish to the match, a 24 point barrage by the Rockets – more than they had previously scored – knocked the stuffing out of their shocked opposition whose ten points mainly came in the latter stages of the quarter.

Peter Walsh was judged the Blowes most valuable player, while other scorers for his team were Dean Morello 5, Wayne Murphy and Clinton Wilkie 4, Andrew Falvo 3.

Jordan Woolmer top scored for PCYC/Blowes with 9 points, Gary Page & Joel Burke 7, Graeme Brown 6, Daniel Short 4.

Woolpack were too good for Woolpack Wild Cats in the A women’s grand final by 41 points to 21.

Woolpack faced stiff opposition from Wild Cats in the first quarter leading by only 6 points to 2, however in the next two quarters, Woolpack changed their tactics to a full court defense, which immediately brought success.

The pressure on the Wild Cats ball carriers caused numerous changeovers, Woolpack capitalising on these mistakes to completely outclass their opponents, scoring 12 point to 8 in the second period followed up by an even more dominant 14 points to 1 in the third quarter, a winning position for Woolpack even at that stage, leading as they were by 32 points to 11.

Wild Cats showed their fighting qualities in the final quarter to outscore Woolpack 10 points to 9, although trailing by over twenty were never going to overhaul a Woolpack line up now chugging along in second gear.

It was comfortable not un-expectant win by Woolpack to capturing another title and sending out their captain Jenny Tribe and long time team member Robyn Sharp to retirement on a winning note.

The consistant Natisse Kelly scored 11 points for Woolpack, Alison Kelly 8, Erin Allport 6 points and the Instyle Hair MVP award, Toni Tiffen also 6 points, Jen O’Brien 5, Robyn Sharp 3.

For Wild Cats, Hayley & Megan Conroy 10 points, Belinda Hawes 1.

Paragon has lowered the colours of the defending premiers Boral taking the B Women’s grand final 28 points to 25.

Paragon held a five point lead at quarter time, but by half time this had been whittled back to one, Boral scoring 7 points to 3.

With little between the two teams, it was not surprising that Paragon were once again in front at the final break, outscoring Boral 9 points to 7 to have a handy edge on their opponents with the score at 23 to 17.

A three point basket by Alyce Perring followed by a further two points sandwiched between a bucket by Candice Stott, brought Boral within striking distance of victory, but a basket by Megan Line followed by three free shots from Amanda Evans for Paragon pushed them outside the danger zone, and although Boral hit another free shot almost on full time, Paragon clung on to win their first title in three years.

Megan Line scored 9 points for Paragon, Amanda Evans 6 and the Country Physio MVP award, Sarah Page 6, Trish Gossage 4, Min Toovey 3.

At the senior presentations, Chris Spinner was the presented with his second most promising junior playing A grade award

The Blues, with players unavailable and down to five – including an injured Shawn O’Toole – outlasted the Eels to win the Junior grand final by 66 points to 58.

In a remarkable coincidence, the top scorers for both teams – Riche Nichols for the Blues and James Usher for the Eels – scored 37 points, more than half their teams total.

The Blues led by 15 points to 12 early in the game, the teams playing at a hectic pace in the first half, which produced a series of remarkable shots and spectacular rebounding from the players mentioned above, with Harley Zulueta offering valuable assistance to Nichols, Josh and Nathan Morello producing the goods to help in keeping the Eels in the match.

Both teams upped the tempo in the vital third quarter, striving to break away to what they hoped would be a winning break, and here, despite desperate scrambling by the Eels in defense, the Blues finally started to get on top.

While Riche Nichols may have been the scoring machine earlier, his other team mates came to the rescue, Rhys George, Harley Zulueta and Bec Spinner chipping in with vital baskets to give the Blues a 52 points to 43 lead at the final break.

The Eels strove mightily to reel in the deficit in the final quarter, and once again Usher was the main scorer, but Nichols, his opponent in the scoring stakes, matched him basket for basket to take the Blues to victory by eight points.

Other scorers for the Blues were Rhys George 12, Harley Zulueta 11, Bec Spinner 6. Josh Morello scored 11 for the Eels, Nathan Morello 6, Thomas Howe 4. James Usher picked up the Most Valuable Player award.

At the Junior presentations, Jenny Tribe presented Riche Nichols with the 2010 Jay Tribe Memorial Award.

Juniors

Hawks proved a little too good for close rivals Wildcats to take out the Division One Junior basketball grand final 47 points to 38 at the PCYC last Sunday.

It was a nervous start from both teams, easy baskets missed in the urgent attempt to get the upper hand, surprisingly, free shots, from Jovi Zulueta for Wildcats and Jake Madden for Hawks the opening gambits.

The game was expected to be a tightly fought contest and by quarter time the usual pattern of play between the teams had emerged as they swapped basket for basket, Wildcats holding a slender lead of one point.

Wildcats built on their lead as the next quarter unfolded, Jordan Tiffen and Alex Sibley doing the damage against the Hawks defence. With the Hawks scoring spluttering almost to a halt, Chris Perring was the sole light on the hill knocking in all four points as Wildcats now in front by five points threatened to eat the opposition for lunch.

Hawks were a different team in the third period after a team talk at half time. Joseph Jackson came to life for Hawks leading the resurgence with six points adding to those from Madden and Perring, but, more importantly, upping the ante in defence. While Tiffen continued to plunder points for Wildcats, Hawks gradually closed the gap and by the last break trailed by only one point.

Hawks went on the attack from the start of the final quarter, their onslaught de-clawing the Wildcats from any come back as they went on to dominate the final ten minutes completely, outscoring Wildcats 15-5 and take the title by nine points.

Jake Madden played well to score 16 points, Joseph Jackson 15, Chris Perring 8, Tom Lawson 6 and the MVP award, Tom Swords 2.

Jordan Tiffen 15 points for Wildcats, Jovi Zulueta 10, Alex Sibley 8, Sophia McRae 5.

At the presentations Alex Sibley received the prestigious Jay Tribe memorial Award presented by Jenny Tribe.

The Most Improved awards went to Ethan Millsom and Tom Swords (Hawks) Jordan Clementson (Tigers) Thomas Pisto (Kings) Sophia McRae (Wildcats).

The Players Player awards went to Joseph Jackson (Hawks) Bianca Crooks (Tigers) Liam Young (Kings) Jovi Zulueta (Wildcats).

The two Coaches awards were presented to Liam Young (U-14s) Bianca Crooks (U-16s)

Mens

Woolpack are 2011 Mudgee mens premiers after squeezing past Crystal Clear Rams 54 points to 52 in the grand final played at the PCYC on Sunday.

It was a nervous start from both teams with shots rimming out early in the match before Woolpack found their range through Jordan Woolmer and Graeme Brown to open up a seven point advantage. Anthony Hamson finally hit the target for Crystal Clear followed by five points to Peter Mayson to square the ledger, but this was followed by a late flurry of points from Woolpack to end the quarter ahead by three.

The second quarter belonged to Woolpack through aggressive defensive rebounding and all round team work, allowing them to use the fast break with great success as they rattled up twenty points to the Rams thirteen and extend their lead to ten by the long break.

Crystal Clear Rams were desperate for early points in the third period and Jason Seis answered the call drilling two baskets to get his team on the front foot. This spurred on his team mates with Stephen Consadine and Mayson hitting three pointers after the first and only basket from Ben Edmunds. Adam Keightley and Gary Page sank points to keep the Woolpack stuttering along to retain the lead which by now had been whittled down by the Rams to an uncomfortable five points.

The final quarter unfolded with a three point bomb from Mayson after two points from Consadine to reduce the deficit by three, but this was immediately nullified by another Brown triple.

Hamson sank three points from the charity stripe to edge the Rams ahead, but Simon Leven dragged down two offensive rebounds from well above the ring to add four points taking the Woolpack total to fifty, two points clear as the match entered the final minute.

Seis added another two points to tie up the match yet again after Woolmer had scored for Woolpack, neither team able to manufacture consecutive baskets to put a win beyond doubt.

Both teams had been in foul trouble for some time and Adam Keightley was fouled by the Rams giving him the chance to poke the teams nose in front.

With overtime looming, he duly sank both free shots and with no time left for Crystal Clear to launch an extra time shot, Woolpack were able to claim a last gasp victory.

Graeme Brown hit 22 points for Woolpack, Adam Keightley 13 and the Blowes MVP award, Jordan Woolmer 8, Simon Leven 7, Gary Page and Chris Samanc 2 each.

For Crystal Clear Rams Anthony Hamson 14 points, Peter Mayson 13, Steve Consadine 9, Jason Seis 8, Jesse Ravenscroft 4, Ben Edmunds and Jarrod Dowler 2 each.

Womens B

Paragon won a heart stopping B grade Womens basketball grand final in overtime on Sunday, edging out Tanks 31-30.

Junior Tiana Uhila sank the winning basket with barely a second on the clock just when Tanks looked to have sealed victory at the other end through a Tracey Kastelein free shot.

Tanks, the majority of players in their first ever season of basketball, surprised Paragon to lead at half time 11-9 as they out manoeuvred the Paragon defence and by shutting down their fast break.

Amanda Evans and Uhila added three baskets to give Paragon an early boost early in the third quarter and although two baskets from Bianca Hughes and a triple from Payden Lawson kept Tanks in touch, Paragon were in total control of the match, outscoring Tanks 14-7 to take a five point lead in to the vital last period.

Tanks were not yet down and out however, Kastelein showed the way back for her team sinking four points, Lawson adding another bucket and suddenly Tanks had hit the lead as full time loomed.

Paragon had no answer to the oppositions tighter defence after their lead evaporated, just a single point from Sarah Page to keep her team in touch at 24 all.

Payden Lawson hit what looked to the match winning bucket for Tanks close to full time, but they then gave away an unnecessary foul on Page and under great pressure she sank both free shots to send the game into extra time.

Tanks took an early advantage in overtime, but this was nullified by shots from the charity stripe by Paragon, only to see Kastelein also sink what appeared to be the bonus game winning point, before Tiana Uhila never looked like missing the final basket, snatching victory from the jaws of defeat for Paragon.

Sarah Page with 11 bonus points from a total of 15 for Paragon was the Country Physio MVP. Amanda Evans added 11, Tiana Uhila 4, Min Toovey 1. Payden Lawson led the scoring for Tanks with 9, Tracey Kastelein 6, Helena Lawson, Taylor Sanders and Bianca Hughes 4 each, Justine Brackenrig 2, Melinda Harris 1.

2010 Finals