From Cooma Monaro Express 25/9/12
It was a big night of basketball on Monday with the grand finals of the junior boys, B Grade women, A Grade women and men's played at the Cooma Basketball Stadium.
Blue Marlins ran out winners 51-40 over the Hornets in the junior boys match, with Groundhogs too strong for the Allsorts in the B Grade women's winning 39-25. In the A Grade women's game Mainstreet defeated Geachy's 42-38 and in the men's grand final Grasshoppers beat Snowy 50 - 46.
Junior boys
In a hard fought battle Blue Marlins ran out winners 51-40 over the Hornets . Tim Wall led his young team strongly, scoring 26 points and defending and rebounding well. Tim ensured that during the competition his young players Will Saddler, Jimmy Harding, Pierre Wall, Ethan Hunt and Keilan Johnson had plenty of court time and were able to stand their own against the bigger Hornets. He was also well assisted by Jerod Blyton who had his first season. Hornets can hold their heads high as they were left with just four players for the game. Daniel Pevere was strong in attack along with Kyle Hubert while Ben Trotter was one of the most improved players of the season. Daniel Hopkin had his first season and is one to watch next year. Well done to all the boys.
Blue Marlins 52 (T. Wall 26, P. Wall 9, K. Johnson 4, E. Hunt 4, J. Blyton 6, W. Saddler 2) def Hornets 40 (D. Pevere 30, K. Hubert 4, B. Trotter 6)
B Grade women
Groundhogs proved too strong for the much improved Allsorts running out winners 39-25. Ailish Pope dominated for the Groundhogs scoring 25 points with Amanda Fitzgerald scoring nine points. For the Allsorts the scoring was evenly spread out among the team.
Groundhogs 39 (A. Pope 25, A. Fitzgerald 9, A. Fergusson 4) def Allsorts 25 (J. Sopniewski 2, A. Theunissen 4, A. Stephens 4, T. Huggett 3, P. Grayson 2, K. Hynes 2, N. Corey 4, N. Walsh 4.)
A Grade women
In a tight match up of the two top teams of the competition Mainstreet defeated Geachy's 42-38.
Open men
Minor premiers Grasshoppers overcame Snowy 50-46 in the open men's grand final.
Grasshoppers started with a lightning steal by Jarrod Sopneiwski only to be fouled on the lay up and having to go to the line for the first point off the game. This was followed by two points from a strong rebound by Tanel Joosep to make the score 3-nil.
The reply was swift by Snowy's Malcom Anderson with a three pointer out of no where to make it three all.
This set the tone and pace for the remainder of the game.
The quarter continued basket for basket with Grasshoppers going to the foul line through Tim Wall's strong moves to the hoop and Snowy's intention not to make it easy for the Grasshoppers. Down the other end Matt Booker was working hard.
Grasshoppers went to the first break four point ahead, but both teams had a high foul count.
The second quarter belonged to the Grasshoppers with Simon Clear stamping his mark on the game with a number of fast breaks and points from the line. Tanel also continued backing up under the basket and was rewarded for his efforts helping Simon claim the points for the quarter.
Snowy's big men Antony Brennan, with Matt and Mal, scored valueable points to keep Grasshoppers from running away with the score.
Both teams entertained the crowd with some tremendous plays under the oppositions basket and variety of shots including fade away jump shots, revese pivot and step round drives to the basket to try and get through the tight defence. At half-time it looked like Grasshoppers were stretching ahead with a 27 to 20 score line.
Snowy came out guns blazing in the third quarter which saw great defensive rebounds by Snowy feed Mal Anderson and Tom Stewart for the fast break. This quickly brought the score closer. The quarter was highlighted by some magnificent individual plays. A drive by Snowy quashed by Grasshoppers only to see some quick passes then a long pass across the key looking lost, only to be collected on the run by Damien Asanovski who landed sweetly did a 180 deg turn and gently popped the ball into the basket off the board with defensive bodies all around, and all in a fraction of a second.
Pat finished the quarter having to go to the line right on the break with a double set of three throws due to a double foul, then sinking two from four. The period belonged to Snowy who brought the score back to four points at the conclusion of three quarter time.
You could feel the tension building in the final quarter as Snowy picked up the first points and leveled the scores. This quarter was the tightest of the game with players not only feeling the energy pinch but due to the hard work in defense foul trouble loomed on both sides. This saw the battle between the guards with Simon Clear, with great support from defensive rebounds by Chris Wall, Tanel and Pat, be able to feed him the ball and secure all the points for the quarter. Then Mal Anderson on fast break and Matt Booker under the ring for Snowy seal their points for the quarter. The final minutes saw both teams untilize their time outs. Both went to the line in the dying seconds with Tom Stewart needing to sink both baskets to keep within two. it didn't evetuate and Grasshoppers capitalized on their free throws and held on to win 50 to 46.
Best for the Grashoppers were Simon Clear, Tim Wall and Tanel Joosep. For Snowy Matt Booker, Anthony Brennan and Mal Anderson excelled with great support from Damien Asanovski and Corey Tucker. This game capped off a fantastic evening of basketball. with all the players, helpers, and supproters to be commended on making the night such a success. Special thanks to the referees from Canberra and the Cooma Basketball Committee.
