THE defending champion Basketball Geelong Cats have qualified for their second straight Big V Youth League grand final.

Displaying talent, strength and determination, the Cats trounced Bulleen, 130-84, at The Arena on Saturday night to sweep their best-of-three semi-final series.

Outscoring Bulleen 36-19 in the first quarter, the Cats took control early as Paul Hutchison (20 points) and Dane Bow (20 points) got started on big individual efforts.

Nick George (31 points) held Bulleen together as the high scorer for the match, but Corey Doherty (19 points) the only other player to score in double figures for the visitors.

Teamwork has been the key for the Cats throughout a season that finished with them on top of the Big V Youth League (2) men's ladder and it is a quality that has taken them through to the grand final.

Chris Dunlop (17 points), Chris Brown (15 points), Ben Suchanek (14 points) and Simon Maasar (12 points) all stood up under finals pressure to score in double figures and help the Cats into the grand final.

Game 1 of the the best-of-three series against Ringwood will be played this Saturday at the Maroondah Indoor Sports Centre, followed by Games 2 and 3 (if needed) at The Arena the weekend after.

Geelong is in for a long and tough couple of weeks as Ringwood eliminated Waverley in its semi-final series, winning both matches by more than 30 points.

With any luck the Basketball Geelong Cats will make it back-to-back championships as a much deserved and perfect end to a triumphant season.