BALLAN Brumbies Under 16 Boys C and their Excies Acmy opponents were both expected to be sitting comfortably in mid-table by this stage of the season.
Given they’re both in the bottom three, this game took on extra significance.
Both teams play a very physical style so fouls aplenty were expected and the boys didn’t disappoint with three fouls on the board before a point had been scored.
No surprise it was a free throw from Brumbies big man Max Dickinson that opened the scoring.
As expected, the bulk of the scoring fell to the hard charging Brumby Phoenix Dart, and physical Excies pair, Lucas Wolfe and Juz Spencer, the trio eventually scoring 49 points between them in this contest.
The game was tightly fought through the bulk of the first half, put backs from offensive rebounds proving the most effective offensive play. Though the game opened up late in the half, counterintuitively, through increased defensive intensity.
With both sides forcing turnovers, they were able to get out and run. Harry McArthur picked off a pass, feeding Max Besant for a layup, whilst Kris Seketa did it all himself, gaining possession when the ball fell out of a scrum, racing up the floor and hitting a tough layup under immense pressure.
Foster Trinder gave Ballan a late lead in the half but a free throw on the buzzer from Spencer tied it up at apiece at half time.
Dart shot out of the gates in the second period, scoring Ballan’s first five points before the diminutive Seketa hit another layup in traffic.
Woolfe got a basket back for Excies but when Besant swished a straightaway three, Ballan had a 31-26 lead, the biggest of the game.
Worryingly for Ballan, Trinder was racking up fouls, the dynamic guard fouling out with seven minutes to play.
With so many fouls being called the match was descending into a free throw contest, at one point the teams combined to score 10 of 12 points from the stripe.
Woolfe broke that run with a twisting shot in traffic to cut Ballan’s lead to one with 52 seconds to play.
With the Brumbies over the foul limit, they had to dial back their defensive physicality. The Ballan boys stayed resilient and disciplined, though, turning away repeated Excies attacks in the final minute to hold on to their one point margin.
Under 10 Boys
Ballan C 22 lost to Excies Acmy 26
Under 12 Boys
Ballan B 60 def Celtic Tigers 37
Ballan D 40 def Phoenix Braves 21
Under 12 Girls
Ballan D 6 lost to Wildcats 23
Under 14 Boys
Ballan A 51 def Celtic Tigers 36
Ballan C 42 def Excies Acmy 37
Ballan E 19 lost to Wildcats 22
Under 14 Girls
Ballan C 43 def Excies Acmy 24
Ballan E 51 def Phenix Flamingos 10
Under 16 Boys
Ballan B 58 def Phoenix Steelers 41
Ballan C 38 def Excies Acmy 37
Ballan E 32 def Excies Acmy 31
Ballan F 39 lost to Phoenix Colts 59
Under 19 Boys
Ballan C 26 lost to Phoenix Rangers 30
Ballan E 29 lost to Wildcats 47
Ballan F 39 lost to Phoenix Lakers 59