Pivot City has laid claim to Geelong United Basketball Men’s Winter Championship title favourites at the halfway mark of the regular season after taking out a tight tussle with YMCA by five points on Tuesday night.
Pivot maintained its unbeaten start to the season with a 103-98 victory at AWA Alliance Bank Stadium.
Leading 85-84 at three-quarter time, Pivot outscored Y 18-14 in the final term.
Both teams were missing key players (Cohen Blythe and Jason Reardon for Pivot City, Liam Herbert for YMCA), but that didn’t diminish the quality of the contest.
Max Kos’ impressive run of form for Pivot continued with 27 points, with Ethan Blythe (25 points), Tyler Erard (24) and Marach March (19) also important.
Nathan Herbert produced a typical Nathan Herbert performance with seven three-pointers in his 30-point haul for Y.
Bailey Bruce (26 points), Jack Terrill (18) and David Overgaauw (18) ensured YMCA, which sits second on the ladder, had an even spread of scorers.
Thanks to an impressive shooting display from Jackson Bentley, Lara Giants maintained third spot on the table with a 113-86 victory over Vytis at AWA.
Bentley finished with 37 points, which included six three-point makes.
Joel McFall (25 points), Jack Burnett (22) and Seth Garcia (16 points) provided good support for Bentley.
Recent addition Yusuf Qaafow was again the standout for the Knights as he poured in 31 points, which included seven three-pointers.
However, experienced head Romas Liebich was the only other Knights to continually threaten on offence.
WOMEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP | ROUND 9
Jamieson Hultgren and Nathan Freind combined for 57 points as Christian College Eagles used a 34-12 opening quarter as the foundation for a 102-57 win over Tigers at AWA.
Hultgren finished with 29 points, and Freind contributed 28 on the back of eight three-pointers in the Eagles’ fifth victory of the season.
Jye Boyle and Tim Bemmelmans both finished with 18 points.
For Tigers, who are still searching for their first win of the season, Oscar Leavold (18 points) and Riley Pendergast (12 points) were their best.
Youngsters Lachie Wilson and Malik Davis have spearheaded Sharks to a 91-73 win over South Geelong Kings at Geelong Arena.
Wilson finished with 29 points, and Davis poured in 22 as Sharks maintained touch with the top four.
Will McPherson did all he could to keep the Kings competitive with a season-high 35 points.
The trio of Seb Thomason, Nick Hough and Nathan Gronbeck combined for 66 points as Try Boys used a 32-19 final quarter to overcome Surfcoasters at AWA.
Thomason was good for 23 points, Hough 22, and Gronbeck 21 in the 95-81 victory.
Josh Chery (26 points), Clancy Whelan (15) and Kuol Reech (14) ensured Surfcoasters were competitive for the majority of the night.
LADDER
NEXT WEEK – ROUND 10
- Wildcats vs. South Geelong Kings @ AWA Alliance Bank Stadium, 7:20pm
- YMCA vs. Surfcoasters @ AWA Alliance Bank Stadium, 7:20pm
- CC Eagles vs. Pivot City @ AWA Alliance Bank Stadium, 8:30pm
- Lara Giants vs. Try Boys @ AWA Alliance Bank Stadium, 8:30pm
- Sharks vs. Vytis @ Geelong Arena, 8:30pm
- Tigers – Bye
