Mudgee Basketball: Club Mudgee Lightning, Roadrunners take out respective grand finals

Lightning were in commanding form in the first half, ahead 14-3 at quarter time, 24-9 at the long break.

Capitals defence could not contain the Lightning attack in the first 20 minutes, and struggled to get any easy scoring opportunities against the oppositions one-on-one defence which bustled players in possession into numerous errors.

Lightning encountered a different team in the second half as Capitals came out playing a more aggressive defence and were able to manipulate the scoring chances into points not available in the first half.

Although still well behind on the scoreboard, Capitals efforts at both ends of the court, stymied the flow of baskets Lightning enjoyed in the first half, and they had to work much harder to score, and in defence, to keep Capitals at bay, the 6-3 third quarter in Lightnings favour, an indication of a more competitive game.

Despite the resurgence by Capitals, Club Mudgee Lightning still controlled the game, their lead early of 24-9, giving them a cushion that Capitals were unlikely to overcome.

An 11-6 run in the final quarter strengthened their grip on the title as the match concluded, Lightning deserved winners undefeated, and minor premiers, by twenty two points.

Lara Disher top scored for Club Mudgee Lightning with 13 points and the Club Mudgee MVP, Aalyah Hawes 7, Amelia Disher 6.

Rachel Channon 6 points for Club Mudgee Capitals, Amy Ioane 5, Chloe Browne 3.

Roadrunners showed better combination and capitalised on their scoring opportunities to defeat Edmunds Interiors, 32-11 in the women's grand final.

In a low scoring first quarter, Roadrunners led 5-2, but in the next two periods, dominated in defence and took advantage of the possession they were able to gain from rebounds at both ends.

In contrast, Edmunds Interiors couldn't buy a basket, kept scoreless in the second quarter, Roadrunners hitting seven points and leading 12-2 at half time.

Roadrunners sealed the match in the their quarter, juniors Maddy and Shauna Rawlinson combining to score all of their teams' 14 points, to just five by Edmunds through Nicole Gjessing, Georgia Bowland and Kylie Edmunds, Roadrunners in total control at the final break leading 26-7.Facing a huge defecit, Edmunds tried hard to put early points on the board and therby exert some pressure on the opposition.

But it was to no avail, all Roadrunners had to do was share the points in the final quarter, and with the final run of baskets going their way, 6-4, they cruise to victory by 20 points.

Maddy Rawlinson scored 15 points for Roadrunners, Krisany Hawes 9, and the Club Mudgee MVP, Shauna Rawlinson 6.

For Edmunds Interiors, Rachel Disher 4, Nicole Gjessing 4.