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Gearing up for final showdown

25/08/2008 10:16:00 AM
The Mudgee mens basketball semi-finals begin tonight (Monday) with the elimination and preliminary matches.

Following last weeks final games of the regular season, Crystal Clear Rams finished Minor Premiers, PCYC 2nd, Blowes 3rd, Roberts Engineering 4th and Oatley Wines the defending premiers (although the team make up has changed somewhat from last year), 5th.

The chances of all teams, hinges big time on whether they can field their full line ups in each match. As it was clearly shown during the competition, if any team did not take the court with five players, a loss was generally the outcome, and by a good margin.

At 6-30 Roberts Engineering and Oatley Wines lineup in the elimination match, the season over for the losing team.

Both teams suffered losses last week, Roberts by ten to Blowes, and Oatley Wines, with only four players, to Windmills by seventeen, setting up an intense encounter in this sudden death play off.

Roberts Engineering looked particularly strong early in the season before the experienced Clinton Wilkie transferred to Windmills, at one stage heading towards a top two finish. With the remaining players 18 or under, a lack of experience could be the deciding factor for this youthful and enthusiastic side. Ben Hiep and Will Roberts hold the key to a Roberts Engineering win.

Despite finishing 5th, Oatley Wines have a talented mix of players well and truly capable of winning the competition. However, to do so, they will have to all players on deck for every playoff game they contest, such is the competitive nature of the games ahead. Andrew Channon and Tim Foley are the players to watch.

Blowes take on PCYC at 7-30, a hard and physical match expected between two vastly experienced teams.

Blowes, after several years as runners up in grand finals, are desperate for another shot at the title, but will have to be at their very best in this and coming games if they are to go one better in 2008. Any team with players of the calibre of Gary Page, Kraige Anderson and Graeme Brown has to be respected.

At one stage 2007 looked like the year for PCYC, but they faded through lack of players as the semis approached. This year they have been more consistant with eight players on the roster, and have a line up that could go all the way. This match against Blowes is their big test, and if they can win, the encounter with Cyrstal Clear Rams should be a nailbiter.Caine Doggett, Joel Burke and Adam Keightley will test the Blowes defense.

Scorers for the first game are Blowes and PCYC, and for the second game the scorers are Oatley Wines and Roberts Engineering.

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