Date: Tue, Feb 16, 2010

Ballarat Scores an Important Win

After going through a long and rigorous grading campaign, the Ballarat Representative Squad’s Under 14 boy’s team have narrowed their chances down to one game. This Friday night will decide their fate in whether they will have the opportunity to play in the Victorian Junior Basketball League’s Championship Division.

The boys managed to record an important win against Diamond Valley (2) on Friday night, seeing them finish second in Pool AA. After last week’s performance coach Travis Hewish said “the kid’s realised that the game was an important one” and that “it was a totally different display than the week before”. A slow start to the game from Ballarat meant that the team needed to adjust how they were playing after the half time break. The boys then showed what level of basketball they are capable of with some terrific defence and aggressive offence in the third quarter to take a fifteen point lead into the three quarter time break.

The fourth quarter saw much of the same style basketball from Ballarat with some aggressive offensive attacking. An all round team effort guided the team to a twelve point win over their opponents.

Next week Ballarat will now take on Corio Bay in a crossover match which will decide where they will spend the rest of their 2010 season within the VJBL. Corio Bay, who finished third in their pool, will also be eager to play hard as the winner from this game will advance straight through to Championship Division. The loser will then take their place in the Victorian Junior League 1.

In the only other grading game for Ballarat the Under 16 boys took on Knox (3) at the Coburg Basketball Stadium. Having lost their last two games the boys were again unable to come out on top, suffering a nine point loss. The side now has their sights set on Victorian Junior League 3. This will require an improvement on performance this Friday night when they take on Keilor (3).

All other Ballarat sides have already qualified for the Championship Division. In their practice matches on Friday night the:

• Under 14 Girls: Ballarat 35 def Bulleen (2) 30
  
• Under 16 Girls: Ballarat 53 def Knox 31
  
• Under 18 Girls: Eltham 54 def Ballarat 49
  
• Under 18 Boys: Waverly 57 def Ballarat 42