Two comprehensive wins have the Navexa Geelong United Youth League Men on the cusp of booking a berth in the Big V Youth League 1 finals series.
United sits fourth on the ladder (13-4), four wins clear of seventh-placed Keysborough with five regular season matches remaining, after sizeable victories over Craigieburn and Coburg.
On the back of 27 points from Jack Moran, United used a 32-10 second quarter as the catalyst for a 123-75 win over the Eagles at Geelong on Saturday night.
Marach Marach (19 points, nine rebounds), Jack Terrill (15 points, 15 rebounds, four assists, three steals, three blocks) and Max Zalakos (15 points, five rebounds) were also crucial to the final result.
On Sunday at Coburg, it was again the second quarter where Luke Beard’s men did all the damage.
Leading 27-21 at quarter time, United torched the Giants with a 49-point second period to take a 76-36 buffer into the main break.
Six players finished in double figures, led by 18 points from Jay Posterino. Moran and Zalakos finished with 16 apiece, Ethan Nicholls contributed 14, captain Seth Garcia 12, and Marach 10.
“Two solid wins build on the back of some great defensive pressure that translated into offensive momentum,” Coach Beard said.
“It was pleasing to see so many of our players get good court time, and an even spread of scorers.”
If United can beat Camberwell at Geelong Arena this Saturday night, and Keysborough loses to Bulleen, finals would be a certainty.
Meanwhile, the Navexa Geelong United Youth League Women have had their playoff hopes extinguished following two weekend losses.
United (10th, 4-14) needed to beat one of Pakenham (6th, 8-8) or Coburg (7th, 7-10) to stay in contention.
However, despite leading the Warriors by one and trailing the Giants by three at half-time, Jason Bannerman’s short-staffed roster could not go the distance.
United lost to Craigieburn 107-92 at Geelong Arena on Saturday night despite a stunning individual performance from Casidhe Green, who tallied 30 points, nine rebounds, five assists and four steals in playing all 40 minutes.
Kayla Blazko (16 points), Annie Poon (15), Jasmine King (15), and Phoebe Calvert (10) all scored in double figures, while captain Vanessa Marsh had four points, six rebounds, eight assists and six steals.
On Sunday at Coburg Basketball Stadium, United was helpless to stop the Giants from storming to a 111-77 victory on the back of a 51-25 final quarter after Annie Poon and Kayla Blazko fouled out, and Vanessa Marsh and Casidhe Green were forced from the floor due to injuries.
King was best on the scoresheet with 19 points, while Poon (17), Brooke Egan (12), and Marsh (10) also battled hard.
Like the Youth League Men, United’s next challenge is a home meeting with Camberwell at Geelong Arena on Saturday night.
