In 2023, Geelong United Basketball has been represented in Victorian Junior Basketball League competition by 45 teams.
This Friday night marks the preliminary finals for our under-12, under-14, under-16 and under-18 VJL teams.
For our VC, VC Reserve and under-20 teams, it’s the second week of playoff action.
NB: VC and VC Reserve finals series are a top-eight format.
UNDER-20 BOYS
20B2 – VJL4 (3rd) – vs. Craigieburn (3) @ Eagle Stadium, 9:40pm
The middle two quarters proved costly for the 20 Twos in their qualifying final loss to Keilor. GU was outscored 24-14 across the second and third periods, as they suffered a 53-41 loss. Marcus Wharton top scored with 13 points. Now face Craigieburn – who they defeated twice in the regular season – in a knockout semi-final.
UNDER-18 GIRLS
18G1 – VC Reserve (6th) – vs. Korumburra (1) @ State Basketball Centre, 9:40pm
The 18 Ones outlasted Collingwood 43-32 thanks to a 22-11 second half. Georgia Bodey (13 points) and Macey Bowie (10) led the way for GU. The Ones must turn around a 22-point loss in the penultimate regular season game to advance to a preliminary final.
18G2 – VJL 6 (5th)
A 28-21 semi-final loss to Wallan ends the season of the 18 Twos. Trailing by seven points at half-time, GU cut the margin to three at three-quarter time. However, they were held to two points in the final period. Six points from April Brown was best for the Twos.
UNDER-18 BOYS
18B1 – VJL1 (1st) – Week Off
The 18 Ones booked the first spot in the grand final after overcoming Keilor in the second semi-final, 50-42. Alistair Smaniotto led the way with 17 points for Dave McCormick’s roster. GU will face the winner of the Thunder’s preliminary final matchup with Coburg.
18B2 – VJL4 (1st) – vs. Sandringham (3) @ Eagle Stadium – Werribee, 9:40pm
The 18 Twos will have to take the longer route to the grand final after suffering a 69-52 semi-final loss to Melbourne Tigers. GU will now face Sandringham in a preliminary final. The Sabres won the meeting in Round 2 by 15 points before the Twos responded in Round 11 by six points.
18B4 – VJL 7 (2nd) – vs. Keilor (6) @ Eagle Stadium – Werribee, 9:40pm
The Pullen brothers – Kyan and Dylan – were the standouts on the scoresheet, as they combined for 24 points in the 18 Fours 54-40 semi-final win over Whittlesea. Another matchup with Keilor awaits for the right to play Surfcoast in the decider. In the most recent meeting, the Thunder won the qualifying final 42-31.
UNDER-16 GIRLS
16G1 – VC Champ (7th)
A final-quarter surge wasn’t enough for the 16 Ones to keep their season alive. Trailing Dandenong by seven points at three-quarter time, GU outscored the Ranges 14-9. However, they came up short despite a 23-point haul from Miley Dawkins.
16G3 – VJL6 (1st) – Week Off
The 16 Threes held off a final-quarter charge from Keilor to take the direct route into the grand final, 35-34. After opening the game with an 18-10 first quarter, GU managed just ten points across the next two quarters. However, Chris Egan’s roster managed to keep the Thunder to ten points, too. Keilor now faces Craigieburn in the preliminary final.
16G4 – VJL7 (3rd) – vs. Sunbury (2) @ Eagle Stadium – Werribee, 9:40pm
The 16 Fours earned another crack at qualifying final conqueror Sunbury in a preliminary final after comfortably accounting for Bulleen in the knockout semi-final, 45-22. GU was rewarded with a 22-10 final term in an impressive defensive effort. Fifteen points from Emma Redfern and 14 from Ella Pullen proved crucial.
UNDER-16 BOYS
16B1 – VC Reserve (2nd) – Week Off
Led by 18 points from Hugh Buckby and Mason Osborne, the 16 Ones overcame Keilor, 74-66, to take a direct route to a preliminary final. GU will face the winner of the Ballarat-Bulleen semi-final for a spot in the decider on September 15.
16B2 – VJL4 (2nd) – vs. Melbourne Tigers (2) @ Eagle Stadium – Werribee, 8:40pm
The 16 Twos earned another matchup with Melbourne Tigers after using a fast start to beat Eltham. Up 24-11 at quarter time, that 13-point buffer resulted in a 59-46 victory. Ayden Kenshole kept the scorers busy with 17 points.
16B3 – VJL5 (3rd) – vs. Wyndham (3) @ Eagle Stadium – Werribee, 9:40pm
Held to just one point in the opening quarter, the 16 Threes suffered a 55-41 loss despite 16 points from Tadhg Whelan and 15 from Riley Lay. GU will now face Wyndham, which has won two knockout finals to reach the final three. The regular season meetings between the two teams were split.
16B4 – VJL8 (4th) – Melbourne Tigers (3) @ Eagle Stadium – Werribee, 9:40pm
The 16 Fours outlasted Keilor, 50-45, to advance to a preliminary final meeting with Melbourne Tigers. Gil Kufe (15 points) and Oliver Rittinger (11) proved crucial in the victory. GU defeated Tigers in both regular season meetings.
16B5 – VJL9 (4th)- vs. Sunbury (4) @ Eagle Stadium – Werribee, 8:40pm
The “survive and advance” motto rang true again for the 16 Fives. They overcame Keilor, 33.26, to earn a meeting with Sunbury. The Jets won the first meeting in Round 4, with GU returning serve in Round 13.
16B7 – VJL10 (4th) – vs. Whittlesea (4) @ Eagle Stadium – Werribee, 9:40pm
Another of the under-16 teams to win two knockout finals. Thanks to 14 points from Micah Staff and 12 from Oscar Williams, the Chris Lytas-coached Sevens slayed the Coburg Giants 45-35. GU had the better of Whittlesea, 50-33, in the meeting between the two teams in Round 17.
16B9 – VJL12 (4th) – vs. Diamond Valley (4) @ Eagle Stadium – Werribee, 7:40pm
And the theme continues. The Nines are through to a preliminary final after an emphatic 43-23 result against Craigieburn. Max Fisher (11 points) and Jonah Carriedo (10) led an even team performance. GU will be hoping for a repeat of the 44-30 victory over Diamond Valley in Round 11.
UNDER-14 GIRLS
14G2 – VJL 5 (3rd) – vs. Bacchus Marsh (1) @ Eagle Stadium – Werribee, 6:40pm
The 14 Twos put the disappointment of the qualifying loss to Bacchus Marsh behind them in impressive style as they saw off Craigieburn by 22 points, 49-27, in the knockout semi-final. Another matchup with the Lions awaits, with a grand final meeting against Keilor on the cards.
UNDER-14 BOYS
14B1 – VC Championship (6th) – vs. Camberwell (1) @ Melbourne Sports & Aquatic Centre, 8:00pm
Sparked by 25 points from Elijah Whiteford and 17 from Lewis Gommers, the 14 Ones moved to the semi-finals after overcoming Camberwell 87-58. Next is a meeting with Eltham, who GU had the better of by 17 points in Round 7.
14B3 – VJL4 (1st) – Week Off
The margin was tighter than their regular season meetings, but the 14 Threes are off to a grand final after holding off Melbourne Tigers by seven points, 44-37. In an even team performance, Daniel Rezaei Mahalati top scored with 11 points. The Shaun Sleep-coached GU will face either Tigers or Surfcoast in the decider.
14B4 – VJL5 (3rd) – Week Off
For the second week in a row, the 14 Fours held off a Broadmeadows team by two points. After beating the Broncos’ seconds in the qualifying final, Jason Bannerman’s team had the better of their thirds in the second semi-final in an overtime thriller, 43-41. Lachie Rice finished with 12 points.
14B5 – VJL9 (4th) – vs. Geelong United (8) @ Eagle Stadium, 7:40pm
Led by Rafael Fryer’s 21 points, the 14 Fives earned a rematch with the Eights in the preliminary final following a 67-61 victory over Kyneton.
14B6 – VJL9 (1st) – Week Off
In an all-Geelong United thriller, the Sixes snatched a thrilling 49-47 victory over the Eights to move straight into a grand final. Vince Gandolfo’s team will face the winner of the preliminary final between the Eights and the Fives.
14B7 – VJL12 (1st) – vs. Craigieburn (4) @ Eagle Stadium, 7:40pm
The Sevens championship hopes depend on getting past Craigieburn in a preliminary final. GU fell agonisingly short of overcoming Whittlesea in the second semi-final, losing 40-39, despite 14 points from Harley Terrill and 11 from James Condro. The margin was seven points in both regular season meetings, with the Sevens and Eagles splitting the results.
14B8 – VJL9 (2nd) – vs. Geelong United (5) @ Eagle Stadium, 7:40pm
The Eights – who lost to the Sixes in the second semi-final, and Fives will slug it out again for the right to meet the Sixes for the second time in three weeks. This time, however, a spot in the grand final is on the line.
UNDER-12 GIRLS
12G1 – VJL1 (5th) – vs. Altona @ Eagle Stadium – Werribee, 6:40pm
The 12 Ones might have lost both meetings with Whittlesea during the regular season, but that wasn’t a factor as they stormed home with a 16-9 final period to beat the Pacers 35-28. Asha Albones (14 points) and Kaitlyn Dunbabin (9) were crucial to earning a meeting with Altona in a preliminary final.
12G2 – VJL4 (3rd) – vs. Eltham (4) @ Eagle Stadium – Werribee, 6:40pm
A 14-3 final-quarter burst proved the difference as the 12 Twos saw off Eltham, 30-15, to book a preliminary final rematch with Sunbury. Eve Kasper and Chelsea Simms impressed with nine and eight points, respectively. Can Twos turn the tables on the Jets this week?
UNDER-12 BOYS
12B1 – VC Reserve (4th) – Week Off
The 12 Ones took the direct route to a preliminary final after a narrow four-point win over Bulleen, 64-60. This one was a bit tighter after beating the Boomers comfortably in the final game of the regular season. Henry Wilson dropped 19 points for Marty De Lange’s roster, with Boston Kingsley adding 12.
