League Grand Final results from 13 June

2009 Eagle Challenge Champs
Darwin Basketball Association
Challenge Season

3 February to 13 June 2009

 

Grand Final results from Saturday 13 June 2009


 Women

The Eagles overcame the odds to claim their second successive Challenge Season grand final win with a hard fought 59-46 victory over the minor premier favourites Uni Rebels.  The defending champs slowed down the fast paced game of the Rebels with a combination of quick defensive transition and rebounding that helped to limit the number of second shots that the Rebels had at goal.  The Rebels had carved out a 14 win 2 loss record during the season that established them as favourites to take out the crown with their flair on offense and hard nosed defence.  However, the Eagles took up the challenge and took the game to their younger opponents with success that came from their hustle and focus on the defensive end of the court.  The intensity of the game had both teams in foul trouble early and they both paid the price near the end with the Eagles loosing four players to the bench with the mandatory five foul count and the Rebels one.  The Eagles held a slim 30-26 half time lead that they pushed out to 43-33 through the shooting of match MVP Greta Hollis-Stephensen (15) and sister Katherine (12).  In the last quarter the Boundry sisters, Jaylene and Edith (9ea) & Delsey Ah Wang (13), tried to get the Rebels back into the game by pushing the ball up court quickly to catch the Eagles out of position, but the birds had all the answers despite fielding only four players on court for the last two minutes.  In their efforts to prise the ball away from the Eagles the Rebels ended up sending Trish Graham (9) to the line for free throws that she nailed often enough to keep the lead the Eagles had built up during their 13-7 third quarter run.  Seven of the Eagles last nine points came from the charity stripe and it was enough to secure them the championship.

Photo of Eagles: l-r back row: Christine Cooper,Sharne Edwards,Greta Hollis-Stephensen,Megan Reeve & Kate Brennan-front row: Coach Larson,Trish Graham,Michelle Friel & Katherine Hollis

The MVP for the League was Samantha Drescher from Ansett

Ladder:            Uni Rebels 14-3, Eagles 10-5, Ansett 9-7, Lightning 6-9, Warriors 5-9, Razzle 5-8 & Tracy Village Jets 3-11

 Men

The Eagles defended their title by sneaking past minor premier favourites Tracy Village Jets 79-70.  Last years Challenge Season champs had to do it the hard way as the Jets roared away in the first quarter 16-8 while the Eagles struggled to put the ball in the hoop (6 of 8pts from the free throw line).  Travis Ellis (26) loomed as a huge threat and Michael MacLean (25) was looking formidable after returning to the court from NT football commitments, but the Eagles finally settled into their game plan in the second quarter (Jets 21 Eagles 20) with some solid support from the bench in the form of Matt Bakunowicz who helped to steady the side with keyway defense in support of Sam White, both players hitting some shots along with guards Anthony Dennien (10) and Lucas Eugster (14).  The scene was set once again as in their preliminary final against the Lightning.  The Eagles were trailing 28-37 and into the frame stepped Timmy Duggan (27).  Duggan & match MVP Louis Ilton (19) proceeded to take the game to the Jets with penetrating drives and outside treys and at the end of three quarters of play the score was Jets 55 Eagles 53.  Then, as in the womens GF, starting players began to foul out as time began to run out in the last quarter.  The momentum the Eagles had created in the third quarter carried over and soon the game was see-sawing back and forth.  With about four minutes remaining Ellis & Ryan Marshall from Jets had fouled out.  After a trey from Duggan and a jumper from MacLean the game was tied up at 70 all with 54 seconds left in the game.  Duggan then hit a layup, made a free throw followed by free throws from Ilton (who then fouled out) and then Eugster to wrap up another Challenge Season championship for the Eagles.

Photo of Eagle men: Standing: Anthony Dennien,Chris Peters,Shane Harrison,Matt Bakunowicz,Sam White,Louis Ilton & Matthew Kernick-front: Lucas Eugster, Timmy Duggan,Joseph Johnson,Daniel Reid & Coach Larson

 

The MVP for League was Louis Ilton from the Eagles   

Ladder:            Tracy Village Eagles & Tracy Village Jets 12-4, Uni Rebels 10-5, Lightning 8-8, Razzle 6-7, Ansett 3-11 & Warriors 1-13

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 




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