IN this weekend’s Victorian Junior Basketball League (VJBL) Under 18 Boys action, the Bulleen Boomers and Knox Raiders will both be looking to start with two wins in two rounds when they lock horns at Mullum Mullum Stadium on Friday night.

Both sides will come in with some nice momentum given last week’s results; Bulleen got the better of Geelong United in a thriller a couple of weeks ago, while the Raiders currently sit atop the standings thanks to their triumph over Nunawading.

There is plenty to play for given how strong the VC Championship division is proving to be. Starting the fixture 2-0 would do wonders moving forward, so expect both teams to try and deliver a season-best performance tonight.

Bulleen Boomers vs. Knox Raiders
Friday, June 17 @ 8:20pm
Mullum Mullum Stadium

The Boomers have managed to start the second half of season 2022 with a record of one win from one outing, and have placed themselves inside the top four. Friday night presents the challenge of grabbing a spot in the ‘contender’ category, but they will need to take down a fellow championship hopeful in the process.

It was a fast start that served Bulleen well in their Round 1 triumph over Geelong United, as they outscored the opposition by six in the first term and managed to keep them at arms’ length for the rest of the game. They will need to produce a bit more than one good quarter against an impressive Raiders side, and will need to tighten up defensively for all four quarters.

Joel Foxwell was a man on a mission in the win, pouring in a whopping 38 points, which was clearly the most of anyone in the game. He was simply outstanding on the offensive end, and if the Boomers can produce a bit of help to take the scoring weight off his shoulders, it will be massive in securing the win on Friday.

The Raiders currently sit at the top of the table after the opening round, with points and percentage carrying over from the first half of the season. Their win over Nunawading in Round 1 pushed them to first position, one that they will be keen on defending moving forward.

The Boomers present a worthy challenge, but Knox should enter this game as the favoured side. Their performance over the entire year has been well-rounded, and their balanced number of contributors on the offensive end should prove too much for Bulleen.

Fraser Roxburgh has delivered some big performances scoring-wise so far this season, and Round 1 was no exception. He produced a game-high 22 points, and should feature heavily again whenever the Raiders have possession.