PIVOT CITY is on the verge of a fifth consecutive GBL Winter Championship Division 1 men’s title after overcoming Christian College in the second semi-final at Geelong Arena on Tuesday night, 72-64.

The Pivotonians, who welcomed back talisman Jason Reardon for the clash with the Eagles, made a slow start and found themselves six points in arrears at the main break.

However, on the back of some stunning outside shooting from Nick Kent, Pivot City unleashed a withering 32-17 burst in the third period to take a nine-point lead into the final quarter.

Kent finished with 26 points, which included seven three-pointers.

Steve Packer also knocked down two shots from beyond the arc on his way to 13 points, while veteran big James Walker contributed 10.

Reardon was relatively subdued offensively with nine points, but consistently played distributor.

Jackson Bentley again paced Christian College’s scoring with 19 points.

Jacob Pupavac (11 points) and Keith Harrison (10) also had solid nights.

Their preliminary final opponent will be YMCA, which had a narrow 80-75 victory over Lara in the first semi-final.

In what was a tight contest all night, Y’s 23-18 final period, as well as the performance of Lewie Varley, proved the difference.

The SEABL Supercats back-up guard was simply unstoppable on his way to 37 points, which included knocking down five of his three-point attempts.

Riley Herbert was again a consistent offensive threat with 17 points, while veteran forward Jordan Hill finished with 11.

Lara, which went into the clash without star big Ash Cannan, was again well served by 21 points from Mikey Lesic.

Backcourt partner Rob Harding and Lindsay Cole both had 16 points.

Despite a 35-point haul from guard Cortney Williamson, Dolphins have fallen four points short of YMCA in the women’s second semi-final.

Y booked a berth in its first Winter Championship decider since 2007 with a 70-66 result, reversing the three-point loss to Dolphins in the final round of the regular season.

In a free-flowing first half, YMCA took a four-point lead into the main break.

Dolphins turned the screws on Y defensively in the third period, holding them to just eight points, while scoring 13 of their own to snatch back the lead.

With less than 40 seconds to play YMCA led by just a point, but were able to control possession and iced the contest from the free-throw line through Maddy McMahon.

Big V championship winning duo Charmaine Ferguson (17 points) and Vicki King (16 points) used all their experience to get Y over the line, with McMahon (14 points) and Kathy Mallon (10 points) also crucial.

As well as Williamson, Kim Martin (13) and Ebony Rolph (10) also scored in double figures for Dolphins.

They now have to negotiate a preliminary final against Pivot City, which comfortably accounted for Rovers in the first semi-final.

Pivot started the better of the two sides to lead 18-8 at quarter time.

They further extended that lead to 12 points at the main break.

However, Rovers stepped up the intensity on defence in third period, limiting Pivot to just six points to cut reduce the deficit to six at three-quarter time.

In the end, Pivot City’s numerous scoring options proved telling as they went on an 18-8 run to claim victory.

Bianca Cheever led the way with 17 points, while teenage big Lauren Moloney was important with 14.

Tania Du Plessis (10 points) and Lana Ryder (eight) were best for Rovers.