After a COVID-19 disruption similar to last season, the Mudgee men's basketball championships will conclude on Monday night (November 22) at the PCYC.
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Just Brick It will defend their 2021 A grade title against the formidable Mayso's Pro Shop line-up at 7.30pm, while Levens Smash Repairs, in their bid for back to back titles, will be out to repel Edmunds Interiors at 6.30pm.
Just Brick It with a loss to Mayso's Pro Shop 65-57 in their first clash of the season, after giving away twenty penalty points, came back to win the second encounter 58-47, and these results will probably see them start favourites to win the title again.
However, despite what the stats indicate, which team wins will rely heavily in the line-ups available, as both have struggled at times to be at full strength for every game during the regular season.
On paper, if the two sides turn up with full compliments, Mayso's Pro Shop appear to have a slight edge, a victory resting heavily on Peter Mayson, Brett Murphy and Adam Keightley.
While the above three players might hold the key to a Mayso's win, getting the upper hand over their opposition will require massive input from Dave Jessiman, Dean Saxby, Julian Geddes and Tom Byrnes in general play and fast break points.
Guard Chris Spinner, a noted scorer and ball distributer, is apparently unlikely to make an appearance for Just Brick It, a big blow for the defending premiers.
Ethan Millsom, Adam Coughlan and especially Kieran Osborn will therefore be called upon to go basket for basket with their opponents.
But, it will be on the boards the game will be won, and it is here where Mayso's Pro Shop may have the advantage, with a big question mark over whether Just Brick It can get a vital share of either the offensive or defensive rebounds.
There is no question though, on the ability of Just Brick to score enough points to win, but will they be able to restrict Mayso's Pro shop to a lesser score, is their mountain to climb in what should be an enthralling grand final.
Levens Smash Repairs beat all the odds in 2021 winning the B grade title from fifth place.
This season they won the major semi final going straight to the grand final, and while they looked in good form against Hairy Ballers, awaiting to snap their winning streak will be former A grade grand finalists Edmunds Interiors.
There is no doubt Edmunds Interiors were aiming for the A grade play offs, but a severe ankle injury injury to captain and prolific rebounder and scorer Ben Edmunds, plus losses in games with only four players, and a forfeit, meant they finished with only seven wins, and a third place in the B grade play offs.
Levens Smash Repairs were equal first (with Hairy Ballers) in B grade, and beat Edmunds 37-28 midway through the competition when Edmunds Interiors were on the slide, though it was a different story in the round one clash, when a full strength Edmunds Interiors were easy winners 45-22.
However, Ben Thompson, Levens leading scorer and rebounder, was missing with an injury, so the final score may have distorted the result, and Levens Smash Repairs' chances of defeating what is likely to a full strength opposition.
For Edmunds, Blake Joseph, with 23 points (including 4 threes) against Hairy Ballers, is in sublime scoring form at the right time, and it could be a shootout of mouth watering proportions, if Levens Don Var Araneta himself, in a sharpshooting purple patch after 4 triples and 18 points against the same opposition in the major semi-final.
But, Ben Edmunds, with his ability to out manoeuvre opposing defensive rebounders and score off offensive snatches, is the player Levens Smash Repairs must subdue.
If they don't, it's goodbye to successive titles.
Both grand finals hold the promise of a spectacular finish to the season, and with the top twenty players in the league on display, they should not be missed.
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