Youth League Women
Grand Final Series – Game 2 (Best of 3)
Bellarine Storm 70 lost to Coburg 75
Coburg win the series 2-0
In a heartbreaking end to their campaign, our Youth League Women fell just short of sending their Grand Final series to a third and deciding game on Sunday, with Coburg overrunning us in the second half, to take the championship.
The Storm were looking damaging in the first half, with their scoring and defensive pressure, to go into the main break with an 18 point buffer, similar to game 1 the previous weekend.
However, in a rerun of a horror movie we’ve seen before, Coburg grasped their opportunity in the second half again and gradually wore down our lead and take the game away from us, with their shooting and hustle down the stretch.
A 29 to 14 third term from the visitors turned the momentum and put themselves into the box seat, with Grand Final Series MVP Jessica Torrini dropping 13 points for the term to give her side the momentum going into the last.
Try as they might in the last term, the Storm couldn’t manage to put a scoring run together, with shots not dropping down the stretch, allowing Coburg to get to the line by just 5 points in the end.
Talking after the game, Coach David Smith said “We went in to the weekend with a strong plan prepared really well and felt we executed it really well jumping to a handy lead at half time. Unfortunately Jacqueline Torrini had other ideas, taking the game by the scruff of the neck and out of our hands and securing not only the series win for Coburg but also the Finals MVP”.
Coach Smith went on to add that “it was obviously a little bit disappointing to come so close but fall short but a fantastic effort from all of the girls this season. It was a privilege to coach such a talented team and exciting to see what the future holds for all of them and Bellarine storm next season and the years to come.
For the Storm, Olivia Osborne was one of the standouts, who gave her all with 17 points and League MVP Carly Sanders chipping in with 15 points and a massive 22 boards for the night, 15 of those at the defensive end of the court.
Whilst Saturday night was no doubt a bitter disappointment for the Storm, there are so many positives to come from the season, when you consider it was just our first season in the competition. To finish on top and make a grand final is an outstanding effort, along with the development of our young ladies, that will hold us in good stead heading into next season and beyond.
Division 1 Men
Grand Final Series – Game 1
Bellarine Storm 63 defeated Shepparton 60
Bellarine lead the series 1-0
If game 1 of the Grand Final series is anything to go by, we are in for a ripping weekend this coming weekend as the crown is decided, after an electric game in front of a big, noisy crowd on Saturday night, with the Storm gaining the upper hand to take a 1-0 lead into this weekend.
Saturday night was a good, old fashioned slug out as both teams fought hard all night to get their side across the line, with the final scoreline showing that defence was centre stage on the night.
Going in without Jason Reardon, would be cause for concern, however, the Storm all pitched in to cover his loss and it game an opportunity for others to step up to the plate and take charge of the contest.
The Gators were threatening at half time to spoil the party, taking a 10 point buffer into the sheds and having kept the dangerous Lewie Varley in check as he went head to head with Garrett Jefferson in an engrossing battle all night.
Whilst he may have only scored 2 points for the night, Varley’s defensive work on the Gators import and work on the boards with 12 for the contest was important, as was the efforts of Rohan Jarvie, who really stood up when it mattered, to show his immense value to this team, with 22 points and 16 boards for the night.
An 18 to 6 third term, saw the Storm hit the lead by just 2 points, with 1 quarter to go. Everyone was well aware that the Gators weren’t going to lay down and as a result, we had an epic last term as both teams were taking no prisoners in one of the best quarters of basketball for the season.
Rohan Jarvie made the last quarter his very own with 13 points, getting great support down the stretch with Marko Vekic and Leigh Saffin to lead the Storm to the final siren to claim the win and set up a real shot at scoring our very first Big V title this coming weekend.
Coach Luke Beauglehall said after the game “We were really happy with how we stuck to our plan, finals are a gritty game and both teams came with a defensive mindset and the final score shows that. Our defending and rebounding was outstanding, I thought down the stretch we managed to execute a little better and that got us across the line. I expect game 2 to be very similar, whoever settles quickest in front of a packed house in Shepparton will be the key”.
Next Round
Saturday 6th September
D1M Game 2 Grand Final series (Bellarine lead 1-0) v Shepparton @ Shepparton Sports Stadium 7:00pm
Sunday 7th September 2022
D1M Game 3 Grand Final series (If needed) v Shepparton @ Shepparton Sports Stadium 2:00pm