Round 11 of Championship Men delivered thrilling matchups and high-scoring games, highlighted by Bellarine's 97-89 victory over Camberwell. The Storm overcame an 11-point halftime deficit with a second-half surge, led by Elder's game-high 34 points and Velasquez's clutch three-pointer. Bellarine’s superior shooting from beyond the arc ultimately sealed the win. Let's unpack.
Bellarine (97) def. Camberwell (89)
Kicking off Round 11 saw the Storm run over the Dragons in a second half momentum shift. With 64 3s heaved for the game, it became a shootout with the storm finishing shooting 38% for the game with the dragons just the 28%. The Dragons were firing in the second getting out to a 15-point lead leading by 11 at the half time break. Green’s 11 of his 18 came in the second turning the game around bringing it to just 1-point by 3 quarter time. Down the stretch it was the likes of Velasquez who stepped up when it mattered, draining a step back 3pt to stretch it out to 8 making it just too much for the dragons to retaliate. Elder finished with a game high of 34 points while the Storm had 6 of their 7 players who stepped on court finish in double figures, Varley leading scorers with 22.
McKinnon (107) def. Melbourne University (103)
By hands of McKinnon’s trio of Wooten, Maharaj and Anderson, the Cougars got over the line in a scoring onslaught on Saturday night against Shawun King’s Melbourne University. Both teams found the bottom of the net for more than half night as the saying good defense, better offence became a true reflection of the game. Very much a small ball game, this led to constant 5 out situations, extra passes off penetrations with spot up shooters spread around the 3pt line. Both groups were getting in the paint consistently finding dump passes and kick out 3s with the cougars shooting 14 from 27 from the land of plenty. Melbourne made a massive 15-0 run in the last 2 minutes getting to 105 to 103 led by Joel Rimes forcing the Cougars to call a timeout with 5 seconds left. By Wooten’s hands sinking 2 free throws stretching the lead to a 2-possession game there was just not enough time left for the Black Angles as McKinnon win at home.
Keysborough (90) def. Western Port (84)
One of the closer games for the weekend was Keysborough as they just got over the line against the Steelers in somewhat of a struggle by the second seed Cougars. Struggling to find the bottom of the net in the first, getting a shot up in almost every possession they had, the Cougars found themselves down 6 at quarter time. The Steelers continued to put pressure in the paint utilising their size advantage with Permenter, yet battled to control Carlson who took the lid off scoring 48 points for the game. Finding himself on the charity stripe 16 times, drilling 14 and shooting an insane 15/19 from the field, Carlson put his boys on his back and carried them over the line. Now 3 on the trot, Keysborough continue to chase after that 1st place while Western Port continue to struggle finding themselves down in 12th.
Wyndham (97) def. Shepparton (75)
First of their 2 games for the weekend, Wyndham again showed why they’re on top of the table taking the W over Shepparton almost by committee. Defensively, Wyndham were disruptive on and off the ball keeping the pressure in ball screens, downhill actions and contesting everything across the court. Jones led all scorers with 24 proving to this league week in and week out that he is a scoring weapon going 3/5 from the land of plenty whilst adding 7 rebounds and 3 assists to his performance. Jayden Coke got himself in foul trouble in the first half having to sit at the end of the second while Wilkie and Thomas tried to keep putting pressure on Wyndham. Having to play late in the clock many possessions, the Gators night was disrupted by Wyndham’s efforts on the defensive end allowing their offence flow and stretch out their lead.
Sunbury (98) def. Blackburn (97)
It was as close as it comes on Saturday night at Mullum Mullum as the Jets flew away with the win over the hosting Vikings by the hands of Ray Mitchell. Fast forward to the last 30 seconds with Blackburn down 94 to Sunbury’s 96, James Legan, playing every minute, stepped up when it mattered draining a deep step back 3. Heavily contested and well-guarded by Mitchell, the Jets called a timeout to advance the ball with just over 10 seconds left. Off an entry pass by Marshall to Mitchell at the mid post, Mitchell put his head down and got to the center of the key and heaved up a contested floater bouncing in to put the Jets up 1 with 5 seconds on the clock. Blackburn had the chance in the dying seconds but couldn’t get a hold of the ball to get a shot off. 4 of Sunbury’s 5 starters finished in double figures while the duo of Martin and Legan combined for 71.
Hume City (106) def. Pakenham (75)
The first of a double header for both Hume City and Pakenham saw a Saturday night clash ending in comfortable win for the Broncos as they took down the Warriors. A 4 -quarter effort from Hume City extending their margin at every break with their biggest lead of 36 in the 4th. Getting out to an early 12-point lead, all 5 starters from the Broncos hit the scorer’s column causing immediate trouble for the Warriors to contain and generate stops. Elijah Saifaleupolu made a big impact off the bench finishing with 20 points in his 25 minutes. Malik McKinney pushed for a triple double filling the stat sheet with 19 points, 5 rebounds and 9 assists to go with Stones 23 and 11 double double. Pakenham finished with 8 scorers for the game, ticking over 70 points, it was a compromised defensive effort which let them down.
Shepparton (132) def. Bellarine (128)
The biggest score line we’ve seen in Big V thus far and who other to have achieved this than Championship Men. A double overtime battle saw the Gators scraping over the line away from home in an incredible clash of fresh Championship Men talent. It was Bellarine’s game to take in the 4th up 13 before the Gators made a massive run home even taking the lead at one point. With clutch free throws from Devin Thomas to tie the game at 111 apiece, Bellarine had a chance to win but a double team from both imports Thomas and Coke, it was too much of an ask. It was then off a nice driving dish from Varley to Whelan where a foul and goaltend put Whelan on the line with the chance to win it, unable to convert off the 1 free throw it then goes to a second overtime. Second overtime it was all about free throws and who could compose themselves in late game situations. For the Gators, they made their way to the line just enough times to get over the line. Bellarine without Jarvie and McInerney, it was a great fight. Shepparton’ s starts all finished with over 20 points each with Coke leading the way with 33 of his own.
Pakenham (104) def. Western Port (69)
A big turnaround for Pakenham coming off a disappointing loss to Hume City to take down the Steelers in a dominating 35-point win. Even though the Steelers took the lead midway through the first off a tough and one from Permenter, Pakenham quite quickly turned the tables and didn’t look back. Getting out to 37 points in the 4th, the Warriors grew their margin quarter by quarter. It was showtime in the 3rd with Berkec running the floor for a transition throw down followed by point guard Cody Fredrickson and Tiran Mortan putting on a show in the 4th both playing above the rim. Pakenham’s starters all finished in double figures with Berkec and Dow leading all scorers with 19 apiece. Permenter finished with a 15 and 12 double double for the Steelers.
Wyndham (98) def. Sunbury (76)
After some successful Saturday nightnights from both teams, someone had to finish the weekend 1-1 and unfortunately for the Jets, this Wyndham group proved too strong as Myles Thomas and his Wyndham unit took out the W by 22 away from home. Wyndham went off in the first going on a 19-point run with multiple contributors throughout the sequence. Sunbury were able to hold Wyndham to just 31 points through the 2nd and 3rd taking out both quarters. It was then when Myles went for 16 points in the 4th to completely take over the game to run away with the W draining a 3 at the very end to put the cherry on top. Troyce Manassa filled the stat sheet yet again even with his shooting struggles. Ray Mitchell, was impressive all weekend leading the Jets on Sunday walking away with a 21 and 12 double double.
Hume City (103) def. Camberwell (88)
A slow start from the Dragons but them immediately on the back foot as Stone and McKenzie led the Broncs to a 10-point lead by the end of the first. Hume City leading by 26 at the half time break the Dragons began to turn things around draining 5 3s in the third chipping away at the margin. Even though the Dragons took care of the ball twice as much as the Broncs, they still managed to shoot 8 less shots for the game. Scoring 61 points in the second half to Hume City’s 51, it was again, little too late as Hume City hold onto their 5th place just above Shepparton now the 2 games on the trot looking to make it 4 on a row as they face the Gators and Melbourne University in Round 12. Camberwell too have a double as they travel to Pakenham on Saturday before hosting McKinnon on the Sunday.
Photo credits: TorchChavez
