Written by Jai Simmons, BV Rookie Reporter Program 2024
CHAMPIONSHIP MEN GRAND FINAL REVIEW
The scene was set for an exhilarating grand final between two of the top dogs of the Men’s Championship division. The two teams respectively finished first (Wyndham) and second (McKinnon) on the ladder and each looked to claim bragging rights. It was only a few weeks prior when Wyndham and McKinnon faced off earlier in the finals, it was McKinnon who got the edge by 2 points on the road.
First Quarter
The build up to the match was over, the game had begun and the atmosphere within Dandenong Stadium was electric. It was McKinnon who made a statement first after a layup from Anderson. However, they were equally matched by Wyndham, as the lead changed back and forward for the first 5 minutes of the opening quarter. Both teams would primarily shoot from the field, with Wyndham being slightly more accurate. A fascinating individual battle began to form when Hynes and Barry crossed paths. Both were showing a physical aspect to the game which only added to the intense atmosphere. But ultimately, it was Wyndham who had the upper hand after the first term, beating McKinnon 21-14. It was McKinnon’s offensive efforts that held them back, shooting 5/23 from field goals and 17% from the arc.
Second Quarter
Looking for a reply, McKinnon aimed to close the gap throughout the second, however they failed to do that initially. Wyndham looked fiery and sharp, especially when the ball was in Manassa’s hands, where he was shooting at 75% for the first 15 minutes of the match. Wyndham looked to stay ahead eventually stretching their lead out to 10 points midway through the second. Despite Wyndham beginning to look like the more complete team, with the assistance of the McKinnon fans in the crowd, the Cougars began to claw themselves back into the game. Eventually winning the 2nd quarter 21-17, McKinnon had placed themselves just 3 points behind at half time, setting things up to be a thrilling last half. Helped by a strong Prescence from Wooten and Anderson, scoring 16 points combined, McKinnon were on a charge.
Third Quarter
McKinnon’s charge would ultimately continue, scoring a stonking 29 points in the 3rd quarter. Enabling the Cougars to take the lead for the first time since the 1st. Maharaj would spark McKinnon’s 3rd quarter efforts with a clean shot from the arc in the opening stages. What would follow is a large amount of momentum behind the Cougars, that Wyndham would quickly need to put a halt too if they were to have any chance of staying in the match. However, Wyndham weren’t completely shut away, Manassa continued to present his dominance, as he landed a clean fade away for two, with just over a minute left in the third, ensuring Wyndham kept touch with the late charging Cougars. Although despite Manassa’s brilliance, it was McKinnon who ultimately showed their hand. Having their best quarter of the game, McKinnon would take the lead by 7, heading into the final quarter 64-57. The match was still hotly contested, and the crowd were urging their favourites on in what was set up to be a spectacle final quarter.
Fourth Quarter
Wyndham who needed to start the quarter strong, didn’t. McKinnon had more than doubled their advantage to 16 points in just the first 4 minutes of the quarter and it began to look like the game was McKinnon’s loss. Although Wyndham weren’t willing to go down without a fight, they spurred on by the clutch 3 pointers from Herbert late on, looked to have reclaimed the momentum. The game score remained at 79-77 in McKinnon’s favour, for almost the entire last 2 minutes of the match. Until Thomas for Wyndham landed a 3 pointer with just 6.7 seconds left on the clock. It was a moment the stadium was waiting for, neither team had been able to hit the net, in what was a 2-minute deadlock. Instinctively ducking an oncoming block from Maharaj, Thomas released the ball at the perfect time and put Wyndham back in the lead with just seconds left. There were hands on heads everywhere, nobody could guess who was going to take the championship. Adam Walsh, the coach of McKinnon called a timeout, and it was one last opportunity for McKinnon to plan their last offensive effort. McKinnon played the ball from the sideline, and it landed in the hands of Maharaj who powered through the open space and attempted a game winning layup. It looked on target, but it didn’t get a chance to see the glass, it was miraculously blocked by Wyndham captain Ayilara who essentially sealed the championship win for Wyndham. McKinnon were unable to score in their last chance. Ensuring Wyndham after one of the most intense, fascinating and closely contested finals the Men Championship has seen, were crowned 2024 champions.
The event was a night to experience, leaving so many fans speechless and completely shocked. Manassa was given MVP and it was incredibly deserved, scoring 26 points, with a commendable 4 rebounds and 5 assists. Both teams fought to the end in what was an exhilarating grand final. It was just Wyndham’s night!
Missed the game? You can watch the replay here.
