Grand Finals for UBLs most skilled up night has reached its last game…The final 6 face off…2 from each division, who would take it all out and who would go home empty handed and wondering where they lost the game! 4 quarters of action in 3 games!
Div 1Saw 2 teams reach the finals setting up a different scene than last season. MIB the underdog coming into the match with the lower rank, but the Streetfighters matched up well with them and it was to be a battle worthy of UBLs best division!
Streetfighters started the 1st quarter in a little stalemate with MIB noone scoring quickly but then the points started flowing as Scotty W got 6, Lachy CR and Ethan started to heat up with 5 each, the stats were even in all categories excpet steals and tunrnovers where MIB had 4 TOs to 1 from Streetfighters and the steals were in Streetfighters favor with 3 to 1. MIB not taking care of the ball as much, or was Streetfighters playing more defense, the scores only 4 points difference with Streetfighters taking the lead going into the 2nd quarter.
2nd quarter the Streetfighters took a 7 point lead only to have Ross Dan and Seth hit big unanswered shots to catch up to 1 point with 4 mins left, then they took the lead on a Seth pocket 3 with 3 mins left taking the momentum, which they kept til the end of the quarter when Lachy and Ethan hit a three after each other to snatch the lead by 1 at the half. The ballers playing well so far on MIB were Ross M on 8 points, hitting corner threes and jumpers like Kyle Korver, jack H was scooping his way to 8 points as Lach CR and Ethan equaled them with 8 point each also!
3rd quarter was when things got heated, every loosed ball fought for! Ethan went off this quarter hitting consecutive deadly threes to break the lead open again and Tim hit a crucial shot to make the MIB crew switch gear to catchup mode. MIB hustled hard and got some big shots to go down, Dan B got 8 in the quarter and Seth added 6 to take the lead by the end of the quarter by 1. The buckets this quarter were just back and forth after a big run from each team. Setting up an epic fourth quarter!
The 4th quarter it was pretty much even, the last 12 minutes would be a race to garbage time, and whoever had the lead then would likely run away with it. The buckets went back and forth, Jack H was massive this quarter with 10 points and Geoff threw in 5 more. Streetfighters got out running with some great inside passing. But With 6 mins left MIB took the lead by 6 with 2 big threes from Jack in a row, shocking the Streetfighters gaurds into gear. Then Ethan got some huge runs to go down with some top of the key steals to bring the Streetfighters back in the game and back in control. Ethan was on a rampage and dropped 13 in the period for Streetfighters. MIB looking to someone to step up and answer those big shots. Dan B hit a big three to bring the score within 3 with 15 seconds remaining, but in garbage time, the Streetfighters were sent to the line where Lachy CR and Ethan calmly hit free throws to seal the win and the Championship! The Streefighters franchises only Wednesday win since 2013! An 8 year dought ended on an epic game against a super tough opponent!
Top Performers this game for Streetfighters were Ethan L the MVP for this finals with 35 points 7 rebs and 5 steals, Lachy CR got 20pts 8rebs and 5assists. Scotty W helping out with 9 points also which was enough to dispatch the MIB scorers who were Jack H with the team high monster double double of 22 points and 14 rebounds on 63% shooting! Dan B able to get 18points, 6rebs and 4 assists in a great all round game. MIB shooting better than Streetfighters this game on 44% but turned the ball over 16 times to Streetfighters 5, almost all other stats were even as these two teams left it on the court this game! Well done to both teams!
DIv 2 action was going to be a tense one, with Killa Beez making their 2nd trip to the finals in a row, defeated by Yo Mambas last year they were looking to get revenge on the basketball gods and try and get one over The Bombers this game.
1st quarter commenced and the two teams were neck and neck the whole way, Stu Mac was on fire this quarter opening up the game for KillaBeez getting 8 in the quarter and putting the Bombers on alert, with 6 players getting getting buckets this quarter to keep the score close. KillaBeez were using the paint to launch their attack and Bombers shot the ball in volume from the perimeter but only going 2 of 8 whilst the KillaBeez shot 67% giving them a 2 point lead as the quarter ended.
2nd quarter saw the KillaBeez build a little on their lead as they started hitting a few threes themselves shooting 45% so far from deep. Bombers continued to try their luck from outside. With the heavy defense by the KillaBeez, the shots weren’t open and there was a lot of reaching giving the Bombers the chance to keep things close from the free throw line, hitting 11 of 13 thus far giving them only a 2 point gap to cover as the 2nd half drew closer. Wayne J was big this quarter with 10 points so far and 4 assists. Stu Mc had 8 from his hot start and Mick O was owning the glass with 11 rebounds so far. Dan M the man this quarter with 10 points for his team, the leader for Bombers so far with Jed starting to get going with 6.
3rd quarter was where things got interesting with the game about to be turned on its head! Down 2, the Bombers started to work the clock and the bonus system as they went to the line for even more free throws and Dan M started to get his three ball in with 5 total so far. Jed P was hungry and put up 12 so far and forcing his way inside for his patented floater. With 1 minute left in the 3rd, Dan M hit a big three after a broken fast break to take the lead by 6 at the 3rd quarter siren!
4th quarter saw the foul trouble start to dawn on KillaBeez who were too hungry at times for the ball and got caught for some fouls that would send one of their big scorers to the bench, this was pivotal in the come back and the KillaBeez could only hope to catch up on some miracle being down a player. But the KillaBeez kept on, Jayden providing a steady from of points from slashing in to get his total to 17, whilst Dale wasn’t letting down either with 14 in the quarter to try push KillaBeez forward towards a possible tie breaker, but it was just short fo the mark, as the final siren went, it was a 3 point difference, KillaBeez put in everything they had but Bombers had this one in the bag as they closed out the game in garbage time. A great game by KillaBeez, a heartbreaking loss in the finals 2 seasons in a row but they’ll never give up till they get their mission complete, watch out Div 2!
Bombers come up big and comeback from being down all game to overcome the impossible and win the game and the Championship this season in Division 2!
Top Performers this game for KillaBeez were W Jennings on 14pts 6rebs and 5 assists, Dale W with 22 points, a game high equaling Dan Ms 22 for Bombers and Jayden with a monster game with 17 points and 11 rebounds on 50%shooting. But unfortunately it wasn’t enough as Bombers outshone them in the nick of time with Dan M on 22 points to lead the way, Jed P with 16 points and 9 rebounds, 1 short of a double Double, and a big mention to Lachie Pax who orchestrated the offense with a near triple double, 9pts 8rebounds and 10 assists! A finals statline that surely played a major part in this Grand Finals win for Bombers!
Div 3 backstory was thick with ups and downs and a team that has been fighting for this moment all season to see it all come to be! Fumblerz vs Bricklayers, a matchup of 2 Div 3 teams that would go down to the wire! After last seasons grand finals loss to Kents, Fumblerz have been super hungry this season going on a huge winning streak leading up to this game.
1st quarter was lower scoring than expected, both teams finding their rhythm mid quarter as the shooting started warming up. Both teams looking for their threeball early with Bricklayers hitting 3 of them, Fumblerz went inside for some mid range shots and put backs from Neale in the poast, Jacob was finding gaps to drive and got 4 in the quarter, Danny Bs jumper was wet to start with 4 also. Jake Egan from Bricklayers stepped up he with 9 of his teams 14 points giving them the 1 point lead as the 2nd quarter came up quick.
2nd quarter saw the two teams trade buckets for a long while, Danny B continued to hit jumper and layups with another 6 points to match Jakes 6 for the quarter as the Fumberz still struggled from deep, not hitting a 3 ball yet but getting it done inside, shooting 1% better overall at the end of this period. Fumblerz had the advantage in rebounds by 6 and saw the free throw line more, giving them some control going into the 2nd half by 2 points. Anyones game at this point!
THe third quarter was a grind with each team trading buckets and free throws at each end. Jacob H was causin issues for the inside defenders from Bricklayers who were doing their own damage on the inside as well this quarter with a could of successful drives and put backs. The score at the end was 41-40 with Fumblerz just ahead. Both teams so close in starts but Fumlberz still outrebounding Bricklayers by 10 giving them more 2nd chance points. The score only 1 point difference with Fumblerz in control but only slightly!
4th quarter had to se the stalemate end somehow as we had some players step up to break the deadlock. Danny B was the man this quarter with 6 points, all crucial in the attack as they tried to close the game out. Bricklayers were doing well passing to the open man but they risksed some pases which mad ethem turn the ball over 5 times this quarter, not taking care of the ball may have costed them this quarter and the game!, But with scores still close, with 2 minutes left, Danny B hit a fadeaway jumper that put Fumblerz up by 4, with the 3s not going in still for Bricklayers it was a hard task to try and get the buckets needed to catch up..Danny B calmly sinking some crucial free throws…and Al B put the last nail in with a free thow to put the game out of reach for the Bricklayers. Giving Fumblerz the championship in Division 3 this season!!
Top Performers this game were Danny B the Finals MVP with 14 points on 50% shooting hitting some ice cold free throws late in the 4th to seal the win. Neale P was a beast on the inside with a near double double 12 points and 9 rebounds on 50% shooting..Mitch J and Nitin grabbed 8 big boards. Jacob H was locked in this game with 9 points and 5rebs. Bricklayers team was led by Jake E who was unstoppable with a game high 28 points and 11 rebs on 42% shooting, carrying the team with help from Jye P on 7poitns and 7 rebs, Michael P pulled in 10 rebounds to help out but the team only lost by 4, a valiant effort worthy of a finals game appearance but unfortunately it just wasn’t their game.
Well done to all teams who participated this season, it was a long one since 2020 due to Covid and the Grand Finals was all that we hoped for with some epic games and solid moments!
Stay tuned for next season, are you back in? or in rebuild mode? Don’t lose your spot to have the chance to one day realize UBL glory like these champions!
Share this Post