The big day has arrived with the Mudgee Basketball grand finals to be held at the Mudgee PCYC on November 28.
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The A grade men's game is sure to excite and enthral supporters and spectators alike, the undefeated minor premiers, Just Brick It, striving to hold out, one more time, arch rivals Edmunds Interior Predators.
Just Brick It have had the wood on Predators 49-42 and 47-38 in both matches during the season, but as the scores indicate, there is very little between the two teams.
Just Brick It recruited wisely during the off season with an eye on their first title, and the combination of Chris Spinner, Adam Coughlin, Kieron Osborn and Steve Marshall, should get them home, although it won't be an easy task.
Waiting to spoil the party, Predators, at full strength, are a formidable opposition, the team coming off a morale boosting win 53-39 over Mayso's Pro Shop in the final, and with Ben Edmunds, Anthony Hamson, Clinton Wilkie and Nathan Martyn having plenty of grand final experience, they will be in game until the final whistle.
Stride Health will have to wait until the result of the B grade final at 12pm between Hairy Ballers and Levens Smash Repairs to find out who will be their opposition in the grand final.
Levens have come from fifth place to face the minor premiers, and although only having six registered players, and unsure how many will take the court at game time, will be hard to toss, ensuring Hairy Ballers will have to be at their very best to make it to the grand final.
Whichever team makes it through, it will be a formidable task to take down the in form Stride Health, whose line up including Liam Young, Andrew Channon, Jim Disher and Sam Watson will be hard to overcome.
Of the two teams in the final vying for a chance to knock them off, Hairy Ballers probably have the better chance, with the likes of Martin Howes, Pete Doran, Matt Eyles and Ashley Diprose the key players.
Levens Smash Repairs, if they win against the Ballers, will have to play out of their skins to claim the title.
Although they have a number of good players, including A J Millsom, Simon Leven and newcomer Ben Thompson, their all round strength is not quite up to the other two teams.
The top two teams in the Women's competition will tee off in the grand final, and if both teams are at full strength, it should be a close game.
Roadrunner take a 2-1 win advantage from the competition rounds over Edmunds, 26-15 and 26-18, into the grand final, Edmunds Interiors 26-25 in the other encounter.
Roadrunners will be relying on the experience of Aimee Maguire, Krisany Hawes and Sam Hjorth, but it will be the combination of juniors Maddy and Shauna Rawlinson, who have been the top scorers for Roadrunners in most, if not all their games, that will trouble the opposition.
Edmunds Interiors will look to Rachel Disher to lead them to victory with her usual triple of scoring, rebounding and general play.
However for Edmunds to win, they will require considerable input from Nicole Gjessing, Kylie Edmunds and junior Lara Disher, and if it all eventuates, Edmunds Interiors will be in with a chance of taking the title.
The undefeated Club Mudgee Lightning will start hot favourites in the junior girls grand final against Club Mudgee Capitals.
Lightning downed Capitals 36-20 after giving away 16 penalty points in the major semi-final, and it will take a vast improvement from Capitals in defence and attack if they are to inflict an upset on their more fancied opponents.
Lara Disher, McKenzie Cini, Jess Nipperess and Aaliyah Hawes have led the way to each of the Lightnings victories during the season, and that combination looks set to also deliver a grand final victory.
If they gel, reduce their turnovers and sink their scoring opportunities, Capitals could cause an upset, but, Amy Ioane, Abby McKay, Chloe Browne and Georgia Bowland will have to be on target with every shot, and the teams defence will need to be exceptional, to produce the winning formula.
Minor premiers in the Junior boys, Mayso's Pro Shop Kings, will have their hands full in containing Mudgee Travel and Cruise, in what could be the grand final match of the day- senior games included- at 1pm.
With wins of 35-33 and 29-23 over Mudgee Travel and Cruise during the season, Mayso's Pro Shop Kings will start warm favourites at the tip off.
However, MT&C are coming off a 49-34 win in the final over Wildcats with only four players, which no doubt will have given them a huge boost of confidence for the big match.
Matt Robinson-23 points in the final- will be hard to contain, but Connor McLean and Jaxson Turnbull also picked up valuable points in the final, and will be called upon again to repeat that to take their team to victory.
Mayso's Pro Shop Kings though, certainly have the line up to thwart any opposition attack or defence.
Jacob Marshall-one of the most improved players in the competition- along with the uncanny combination between Lachlan Hemingway and Mack Codrington, and the consistent back up from Riley Tonkins, Connor Mayson and Oliver Turner, a definite stumbling block for a win by Mudgee Travel and Cruise.
GAME TIMES:
- B grade men (final): Hairy Ballers v Levens Smash Repairs - 12pm
- Junior boys: Mayso's Pro Shop Kings v Mudgee Travel and Cruise - 1pm
- Junior girls: Club Mudgee Lightning v Club Mudgee Capitals - 2pm
- B grade men (grand final): Stride Health v TBD - 3.30pm
- Women's: Edmunds Interiors v Roadrunners - 4.45pm
- A grade men: Just Brick It v Edmunds Interiors Predators - 6pm