IT’S finals time for the Country Basketball League North East competition, with Wallan and Seymour finishing its home-and-away seasons on a mostly good note.
The men’s competition sees Seymour the team to beat after completing its campaign on top of the ladder, and with a dominant 61-point demolition job of Myrtleford.
The Blasters bolted away from Myrtleford from the outset, holding the Saints to just five points in the first quarter as they established a 19-point lead at the first change, before scoring 30 points to nine to lead by 40 at the main break.
Seymour scored 44 more points in the second half to eventually record a 98-37 victory.
Tyler Best scored 25 points in the victory, while five other Blasters scored in double digits.
Wallan came from behind to earn a home final with a stirring five-point win over Shepparton in Shepparton.
The Gators stole a march in the opening quarter, scoring 26 points to 18 to lead by eight points.
However, led by Ryan Philippe’s 26 points, the Panthers slowly started to claw their way back into the game, cutting the margin by two points to trail 42-36 at the main change, before erupting in the third quarter.
The 28-16 run meant the Panthers led 64-58 at the final change, before a see-sawing final quarter saw the Panthers in front when it mattered most, winning 78-73.
Wallan’s women had a positive end to the season, scoring a six-point triumph over Shepparton to ensure it avoided the wooden spoon.
The Panthers got away to a seven-point lead at the opening change, and despite a Shepparton fightback which saw the margin whittled to two points at half time, the Panthers had all the answers.
They extended their lead back to eight by three-quarter-time, and in a thrilling, high-scoring final term, the Panthers held their nerve to win 79-73.
Carley Cranston had a night, scoring 30 points to help guide the Panthers to their second win of the campaign.
Despite a good start, Seymour couldn’t go on with it, and it will head into finals on the back of a 22-point loss to Myrtleford.
The Blasters started on a tear, scoring 20 points to seven in the first term, but the Saints got the game back under control in the second term, trailing by just two points by half time.
The Saints then cleared away, outscoring the Blasters by double digits in both the third and last quarters to eventually win 77-55.
Chloe Dimkopoulos scored 24 points, while Alex Martorella added 11 in the loss.
This weekend, Seymour will host Albury, while Wallan host Shepparton in the men’s competition, while Seymour’s women face a tough semi-final against minor premier Albury.
