The weekends basketball action kicked off with the Ballan Brumbies Under 16 D Boys taking on Phoenix Supercats. Ladder leading Ballan, playing with no bench after being severely depleted by player absences, would have to be on their toes.
Fortunately for the Brumbies, they got off to a flyer with back-to-back three pointers to Lucas Cardona and a layup by older brother Noah before Phoenix even had a sniff of scoring.
Dante Finnigan eventually got Phoenix on the board with a tough driving layup, though Ballan were perhaps fortunate to maintain their margin as Phoenix star Adrian Borgohna was missing a series of shots that he would usually make.
The Brumbies were not about to look a gift horse in the mouth as the Will Lewis and the elder Cardona continued to slice through the Phoenix defense with ease as Ballan raced out to a 17-2 lead.
It was inevitable that Phoenix would settle into the game and they did through the diminutive Blake Ferris. The speedy guard was able to settle his team from the free throw line before hitting a lovely leaning teardrop and a long jump shot.
Their lead whittled away, there were further concerns for Ballan when defensive powerhouse Cambrai Hodge picked up his 3rd foul just before half time. A late flurry from Lewis saw Ballan push the lead back out to nine at the half, 24-15.
A defensive structure change to protect Hodge's foul count at the beginning of the 2nd half saw the unexpected benefit of the big man using his length to wrap up the Phoenix perimeter players. He created a series of poor passes that Lewis and the ever alert Rhys Mitchell were able to pick off and convert into fast break opportunities. Phoenix's transition defense was solid, though, preventing Ballan from making the most of their opportunities.
Lewis and Noah Cardona were keeping things ticking over for Ballan, the former scoring on bullocking drives to the hoop and the latter from his trademark smart movement and offensive rebounding.
At the other end of the court, Ferris was keeping Phoenix within touching distance of the Brumbies, a quicksilver drive and a pull up three in transition proving his class.
Ballan, though, were able to hold their nerve through a final Phoenix push. A pair of Finnigan baskets cut the lead to six but a Mitchell drive and further baskets to Noah Cardona and Lewis, the game leading scorers with 17 and 16 respectively, saw the Brumbies hold on for a 45-33 win that was less comfortable than the score might suggest.
Ballan Brumbies have places available for junior boys and girls as well as senior men's and women's places available. For information please contact us through the 'How To Join' section at www.ballanbrumbies.com.au
Under 8's defeated Saints Warriors 16-6 Under 10 Boys E lost to Excies Acmy 16-22 Under 10 Boys B lost to Phoenix Knicks 24-25 Under 12 Boys F lost to Saints 12-14 Under 12 Boys B lost to Excies Acmy 17-51 Under 12 Girls defeated Wildcats 27-10 Unfer 14 Boys F defeated Drummo Dragons 22-21 Under 14 Boys E defeated Saints Taipans 27-21 Under 14 Boys D lost to Celtic Tigers 24-27 Under 14 Boys B lost to Excies Acmy 39-40 Under 14 Girls B defeated Excies Acmy 21-18 Under 16 Boys G Blue defeated Drummo Dragons 28-21 Under 16 Boys G White defeated Phoenix Rollers 29-25 Under 16 Boys D defeated Phoenix Supercats 45-33 Under 19 Boys G lost to Phoenix Ninjas 21-45 Under 19 Boys E defeated Phoenix Raiders 29-16 Under 19 Boys C lost to Phoenix Rangers 45-61 Under 19 Girls defeated Excies Acmy 59-24