Sharks Win Nail-biter

The Southern Peninsula PowerAde Sharks had a nail-biter in last week's Big V elimination final against Sunbury, winning the three points after a buzzer beater from forward Phil Hickey.

Hickey looked like he was going to miss the game after he had been bedridden with the flu for most of the week. But he responded with 19 points from just 21 minutes of court time. Kyle Reid was another star for the PowerAde Shark's with 21 points and 8 boards, while Rohan Greaves put 19 on the score sheet.

PowerAde Shark's coach Stephen Blackley said the final play leading to Hickey's game-winning shot was executed perfectly. "We drew up the play and it's amazing when it comes off so beautifully," Blackley said. The PowerAde Sharks will now take on Sherbrooke next week in a second semi final.

The Southern Peninsula women team also won it's first final, beating Monash 62 to 56.

The PowerAde Sharks had been thrashed by the University side just one week earlier but managed a 22-point turnaround.

Coach Glenn Shannon said the side had worked hard on its weaknesses shown in the previous week. "We built on a few things we didn't do properly last week and made sure we played accountable defence." he said

Fiona Hannan pulled down an amazing 20 rebounds for the winning side, while Gin Amos scored 24 points.

Next week the Sharks hop on a plane to take on Mildura in a second semi final. Reprinted by Permission

All Set for 200th Milestone

By Marty Shevelove - Mornington Leader July 18th 2006

The uniform fits a bit snugger, but the nickname remains Sheena "Chook" Atkin plays her 200th game for Southern Peninsula this Saturday, the only club she has even known.

Atkin, The PowerAde Lady Sharks captain, got the nickname "Chook" 11 years ago when as a 15-year-old she put on an oversized Southern Peninsula uniform for the first time. The Sharks played in the Country Victoria Invitational Basketball League back then, the forerunner of the Big V.

"My uniform was much to big." Atkin said. "I had chicken legs, still do, and the name stuck."

She has too; through several coaches, dozens of teammates and a near premiership in 1999.

"I'm a loyal one," she laughed. "I've been with Southern Peninsula since Under 12s. I live in Mornington. I love it here. Atkin says she has hung around for one reason: she loves the game If it was up to my heart and mind, I would play forever. But the knees won't let me go on much longer."

Atkin said that if Southern Peninsula won the Big V division two premiership - (the Sharks are 4th on the ladder heading into the final week of the season), she may pull the pin on her career. "I may decide to go out on top, but it's hard to imagine like without playing. I've gained a lot of friends and had great experiences over the years."

If she does call it a day, Atkin will still remain close to the game. She works for Basketball Victoria, co-ordinating its extensive Aussie Hoops program across the metropolitan area and says she'd like to coach a junior team.

Through all the wins and losses at Southern Peninsula, one game stands out: the 1999 grand final loss to Bulleen by a point. "We lost
just one game in the regular season, to Bulleen, and then we lost to them again by a point. It still hurts." Atkin said

This year Atkin is averaging 7 points, 5 rebounds and 3 assists a game, playing solid defence and using her experience to help steer the club, under first-year coach Glenn Shannon, in the right direction.

"The best thing about Glenn is that he knows we are a developing side" Atkin said. "The girls have stuck it out. They train, work hard and have put in 3 and 4 years of hard work. The younger players look to me at times. They're half the reason I play. They need the older ones like me around"

Holman Sparks Sharks

by Marty Shevelove of The Mornington Leader - 16th May 2006

SOUTHERN Peninsula missed more free throws than it made on Saturday night.

But with the game on the line, Phil Hickey calmly sank two shots from the charity stripe to seal the PowerAde Sharks' 89-84 Big V division-one win over Hawthorn at Hillview Stadium.

``It was a very ugly game and we were happy to get a win,'' Southern Peninsula coach Steve Blackley said. ``If you make your free throws, the whole game changes."

The Sharks sank just one-of-eight free throws in the opening term, were ice cold from the floor and were in an 11-point hole at quarter time. But the hosts regrouped and took a one-point lead at half time, 40-39.

The Sharks trailed by a bucket after three quarters and were helped by Hawthorn's poor shooting from the line and the field in the last 12 minutes.

``We're not playing real well at the moment. but we're staying in games and giving ourselves a chance to win,'' Blackley said.

The Sharks were the only home team to win a division-one game on Saturday. Five visiting clubs came away with wins.

Blackley said the play of Mark Holman pushed the Sharks over the line. ``He gave us a massive spark off the bench,'' Blackley said. Holman was five-of-seven from the field and scored 12 points. He collected the Peninsula Springs MVP award.

Justin Bourchier topped the locals score sheet with 21 points. Matthew Willmott and Angus Wettenhall chipped in with 14 each. Michael Deluca played his 100th game.

The Sharks (5-5) welcome back Rohan Greaves on Saturday when Bulleen (6-2) visits.

Southern Peninsula's women's side had a miserable shooting game in its 66-38 loss to Hawthorn on Saturday.

The locals shot just 20 per cent from the floor and 38 per cent from the free throw line. Fiona Hannan was the only player to crack double figures with 13 points.

Southern Peninsula fell to 6-3. Hawthorn improved to 7-1.

``One thing I was pleased about was that we took care of the ball. We just couldn't put it in the hole,'' Southern Peninsula coach Glenn Shannon said. ``They played a zone all night and we didn't get the ball inside.''

Southern Peninsula hosts Ringwood (4-4) on Saturday.

Shannon has taken a look at the club's next seven games and says he'd like to go 6-1 over the stretch. "It's a big ask, but we're a much better club than what we showed on Saturday.''

Southern Heads North

by Marty Shevelove of The Mornington Leader - 2nd May 2006

THEY'RE back, baby! Back to the .500 mark.

The Southern Peninsula PowerAde Shark's men's team won it's third straight game on Saturday, routing host Shepparton 85-50 to even its record at 4-4 and move into the top six in division one of the Big V.

"We're heading north and are slowly on the rise," PowerAde Sharks coach Steve Blackley said. Southern Peninsula actually trailed 4-0 after the first minute, but then went on a massive 20-0 run to take control.

Justin Bourchier scored 19 of his game high 31 points in the opening quarter and the Sharks put the clamps on Gators' US import, Jared Swanson, who also got off to a good start.

Swanson had 22 of Shepparton's 30 points at half time. But the Sharks double-teamed him in the second half, preventing him from getting good looks at the basket, and he scored just three points to finish with 25.

"We played pretty good defence," Blackley said. "We knew Swanson was going to get his points. We didn't want anyone else to hurt us." No one did.

The Sharks were handy winners even though they played without point guard Matt Willmott, who is arguably their best player. He was at a wedding. Brent Fitzgerald, just 17 years old, picked up the slack with 15 points on six-of-12 shooting and grabbed eight rebounds.

Ben Appleford added nine points and grabbed 13 rebounds and Mick De Luca chipped in with eight points.

"The guys realise we are not a 120-point-a-game team like we were last year," Blackley said. "We're good for 80 or 90 points, maybe 100 occasionally. We have to play to our strengths a lot more."

The Shark's are away to Bulleen (2-2) on Saturday

DESPITE committing a season high 37 turnovers, the Southern Peninsula PowerAde Shark's women's team managed to beat a good Craigieburn team, 73-70 in overtime last Sunday at Hillview Stadium.

However, with the game on the line, the Lady Sharks did take better care of the basketball. They turned it over just once in the extra session.

But the failure to knock down free throws almost cost the Lady Sharks the win. They hit just three-of-12 from the charity stripe in overtime, which left the door open for Craigieburn (3-2).

Southern Peninsula (6-1) second on the Big V division two ladder, welcomed Nicole Stanley and Fiona Hannan back into the line-up and each played a huge role in the win. Stanley scored a game-high 19 points on eight-of-14 shooting and grabbed 12 rebounds. Hannan scored 12 points and pulled down seven rebounds.

Southern Peninsula has the hot hand from three-point range, which proved the difference. It was seven-from-17 from outside the arc while Craigieburn failed to connect even once from nine attempts. Sheena Atkin hit four-from-nine three-pointers and finished with 15 points. Southern Peninsula played at Latrobe City (4-2) on Sunday and then travels to Mildura (5-1) on the following Saturday night

Hat-trick For Lady Sharks

by Marty Shevelove of The Mornington Leader - 11th April 2006

WHAT a difference a year makes.

Southern Peninsula won its third straight game of the young season on Saturday night, defeating visiting Mornington 77-55 and sits on top of the Big V division two women's ladder with Monash University.

Southern Peninsula got off to a very slow start a year ago, and even with a late-season push, failed to make the finals. This year's side, coached by Glen Shannon, has yet to put a bad step forward.

The Lady Sharks had a great opening term, shooting 10-of-16, to take a seven-point lead at the first break, which they extended to 17 at half-time. Mornington pegged back the lead to seven points after three terms, but Southern Peninsula stormed home, outscoring Mornington 23-8 in the final term to run home easy winners.

``It wasn't the prettiest win in the world. we dropped our intensity in the third quarter and let a handy lead slip down to five points,'' Shannon said.

The Lady Sharks forced Mornington (0-2) into 26 turnovers and moved the ball around well on offence, racking up 15 assists.

Nicole Stanley led all scorers with 23 points and 11 rebounds. ``Nicole spent some time with Fiona (former Opal Hannan) during the week and it showed,'' Shannon said. Georgina May added 19 points on eight-of-15 shooting. Sheena Atkin tossed in eight points. Jasmyn Drewry had 16 points for Mornington. Chloe Mace and Jessica Shard had 10 points each.

Southern Peninsula plays at Keilor (0-1) on Saturday and hosts Melton (1-2) on Easter Sunday at 1pm.

Bourchier the Stand Out

by Marty Shevelove of The Mornington Leader - 11th April 2006

THAT'S more like it.

Southern Peninsula rebounded from its pair of Round 1 losses with a 119-100 Big V division one victory over Sherbrooke on Saturday at
Hillview Stadium.

Justin Bourchier was the stand-out with 36 points. The guard bagged seven-of-nine from three-point range and also pulled down 11 rebounds with just a single turnover. Backcourt mate Matthew Willmot had a triple double. He scored 21 points, grabbed 12 rebounds and handed out 13 assists. Willmot was named the Peninsula Hot Springs game MVP.

``What was pleasing for me was the 29 assists we had to their 11,'' said PowerAde Sharks coach Steve Blackley. ``We were passing the ball, moving it and swinging it around a lot better. Everyone played well. The Sharks led by 12 points at the major break, 60-48, and finally put Sherbrooke (1-2) away in the last Quarter ``We had to work hard all 48 minutes,'' Blackley said. ``It was a good test for us.''

Angus Wettenhall added 20 points and Kyle Reid 13. ``We got our scoring going and that is a step in the right direction. We had to get the win. We couldn't be 0-3,'' Blackley said.

Mat Cannon led Sherbrooke with 36 points and 19 rebounds.

The Sharks have a rare Thursday night game at Hillview Stadium against Chelsea (1-2) and play at Keilor (1-1) on Saturday night.

Sharks 25 35 23 36 - 119 Sherbrooke 25 23 28 24 - 100