Crystal Clear Rams will get to defend their 2015 A grade Men’s title, after they defeated minor premiers Mayso’s Pro Shop 50-43 in the elimination final.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The win looked out of reach at the end of the first quarter for Crystal Clear, as Mayso’s lead 12-8 and the Rams lucky to trail by only four.
They were a different side after the break, Steve Consadine and Ben Edmunds in particular, smothering the Pro Shop offense then scoring all but two of the teams 19 points to go into the long break ahead 27-20.
In the third quarter Peter Mayson, Christian Dayrit and Adam Keightley dragged the deficit back to two baskets by the final break.
But the Rams were at their aggressive best in the final quarter and Mayso’s were thwarted in their attempts to score.
At the other end Rams stretched the lead to seven points, the bid by Mayso’s for a premiership over for this year at least.
Crystal Clear Rams will take on old foes Lawson Park in the grand final on Sunday at 3pm, the history of previous clashes pointing to an overtime game.
Lawson Park have the big men in Clinton Wilkie and Matt Purtell to match it with Consadine and Edmunds, but it is the shooting power and accuracy of Jordan Woolmer and Chris Spinner, along with their team work with Justin Howden, that could prove the difference.
While the Rams’ Edmunds and Consadine scored the bulk of the points, against Lawson Park this is unlikely to ensure victory, if key player Anthony Hamson doesn’t play, who brings a passing, shooting and rebounding game.
Ghost Squad look set to give Desperados a game to remember in the B grade grand final, after they knocked out the defending premiers Eltons Hairy Globetrotters 49-35.
Ahead by only two points at quarter time, Ghost Squad set up the win in the second to lead 25-13.
Hairy Globetrotters fought back in the second half, but Ghost Squad gave them few chances for a fourteen point victory.
Desperados will be relying on the three older heads, Andrew Channon, Brett Swords and Jacob Edmonds, to guide the young side in the grand final at 12.30pm, against an opposition of similar make up, led by two very good shooting and rebounding players in Zac Burley and Lachlan Hart.
Defending premiers Blue Wren play GSH Roadrunners in the A grade Women’s grand final at 1.45pm.
If both teams are at full strength, it should be a close game, but if either is missing a player, the score could blow out.
Defending premiers Blue Wren will start favourites, but if Roadrunners can disrupt their opponents’ fast break, pull down their share of rebounds, and match their scoring, it could go the final whistle.