Pivot City pulled off a stunning final quarter turnaround to claim its third consecutive Geelong Basketball League Division 1 Winter Championship on Tuesday night.

Trailing by as much as 12 points in the fourth period of a sometimes fiery encounter at Geelong Arena, Pivot outscored Try Boys 22-12 to win 64-63.

Paul Hutchison had the chance to play the hero on the final buzzer for the Bears, launching a three-point attempt from just inside halfway, however he was unable to draw a foul on his shot.

Trevor Hartwick was the star for Pivot in its final quarter charge.

He scored 11 of his 16 points, which included three bombs from beyond the arc, in the fourth period.

Hartwick and the talismanic Jason Reardon (17 points) were the main offensive threats for the winners, with veteran duo James Walker and Adam Clapinski both chiming in with 11 points.

Try Boys will be left to rue the chance to snap a 15-year drought in Winter Championship action.

The Bears threatened to blow the game open after taking a 23-11 advantage into quarter time, thanks to a quality start from peerless guard Paul Hutchison, who scored 13 of his 19 points for the game in the opening stanza.

They pushed that margin out by one at the main break, holding a 40-27 lead.

However, after a clash between Bears’ playing coach Glenn Sharp and Reardon early in the third quarter, the complex of the clash changed

The Bruce Waldron-coach Pivotonians outscored Try Boys 15-11 in the period to make the deficit a more manageable nine points.

Meanwhile Pivot City has double reason to celebrate, winning its first women’s Winter Championship since 2006.

In a defensive contest, Pivot held off Try Boys 40-33, despite scoring just 11 points in the second half.

Olivia Cameron was best for Marisa Kol’s charges with 17 points, while Bianca Cheever finished with 10.

Anna Teague dropped 14 points for the Bears, however any chance her side had of snatching victory went when she fouled out late in the contest.

Meanwhile the top 10 vote getters in the GBL Division 1 men’s and women’s MVP awards have been unveiled, with the winners to be announced at Saturday night’s “Celebration of Basketball in Geelong.”

Jack Terrill Trophy (Women’s MVP)
Olivia Cameron, Pivot City
Bianca Cheever, Pivot City
Sarah De Grandi, Try Boys
Vicki King, YMCA
Abby Schrader, Lara
Caitlin Shadbolt, Lara Giants
Anisa Sijersic, Try Boys
Ellie Stevens, Rovers
Maddy White, Sharks
Cortney Williamson, Dolphins

Ted Smith Trophy (Men’s MVP)
Dane Bow, Sharks
Marty De Lange, Try Boys
Chris Daniele, Try Boys
Paul Hutchison, Try Boys
Nathan Freind, CC Eagles
Jordan Hill, YMCA
Ben McCawley, Dolphins
Ashish Motiani, YMCA
Jason Reardon, Pivot City
James Walker, Pivot City
Steve Wiasak, Vytis