BULLEEN Boomers and Knox Raiders are the teams to beat in the Melbourne United Victorian Junior Basketball League (MUVJBL) Under 16 Boys championship division. Both sides sit atop of their respective pools, coming off big wins last Friday night.
Ashe Pool:
Bendigo Braves 57 defeated by Southern Peninsula Sharks 66
Nunawading Spectres 50 defeated by Diamond Valley Eagles 68
Dandenong Rangers 58 defeated Eltham Wildcats 2 43
Latrobe Energy 48 defeated Keilor Thunder 43
Knox Raiders 68 defeated Whittlesea Pacers 36
Knox Raiders were far too good for Whittlesea Pacers in a top-verse-bottom clash. The Raiders kept Whittlesea to just 20 points by three quarter time, having piled on 48 themselves in the opening three terms. The last term saw the home side ease up a bit as the Pacers scored 16 points to 20, although the Raiders still comfortably won, 68-36. Blake Stratton led the way for Knox with 18 points, while Jordan Anderson shot 15. For the Pacers, Matthew Ryan was again the standout shooter, sinking 12 points in a losing team. Meanwhile Latrobe Energy moved into second courtesy of a 48-43 victory over Keilor Thunder. The win meant the Energy moved a game clear of the Thunder with a 5-2 record. Coby Burgiel was simply sensational once again, sinking 28 points, while Brodie McWhinney (14) and Cooper Colson (13) did all they could for the Thunder.
The upset of the round was seventh placed Southern Peninsula Sharks winning against the second placed Bendigo Braves, relegating the Braves to third on the table with the 66-57 win. With scores level at half-time, the Sharks piled on 17 points to 10 in the third term, and then 23-21 in the final quarter to record a nice nine-point win. Darcy Jones sank 23 points in the victory, while Michael Kiraly was the top scorer for the braves with 12. In other games, Jerome Pierre‘s 21 points helped Dandenong Rangers to a 15-point win over Eltham Wildcats 2 despite being behind at half-time. The Rangers scored 36 points to 20 in the second half to run over the top of the Wildcats, with Brody Glenn (12 points) the top scorer for the losers. Diamond Valley Eagles also secured a much needed win, defeating Nunawading Spectres to gain some breathing space on the bottom two teams. Luis Obamwonyi sank 15 points, Corey Rutherford managed 14 and Jackson Harding finished with 12 in a dominant display for the Eagles, while Lucas Koch (16) was the top scorer for the Spectres in the 68-50 loss.
Watson Pool:
Casey Cavaliers 48 defeated by Waverley Falcons 80
Pakenham Warriors 39 defeated by Eltham Wildcats 64
Melbourne Tigers 69 defeated Sunbury Jets 36
Geelong Supercats 57 defeated by Bulleen Boomers 77
Hawthorn Magic 65 defeated Kilsyth Cobras 41
In the Watson Pool, Bulleen Boomers set a statement to the competition with a stunning 20-point crushing win over second placed Geelong Supercats to move three points clear on top of the pool’s table. Daniel Poelsma led the way with 23 points in the 77-57 win, while Will Rimmington (12) and Cooper Ferdinando (11) were also productive. The Supercats had their fair share of scorers too, with four players reaching double figures, led by Jamie Ryan (17 points). Pakenham Warriors went down for the first time this season, suffering a shocking 25-point defeat at the hands of Eltham Wildcats. The Wildcats drew within a point of the Warriors on the ladder, and also stopped Pakenham from going outright second. Zahn Agosta (12 points) was one of four players to reach double figures, something no Pakenham player was able to do in the 64-39 loss.
Waverley Falcons gave themselves a nice percentage boost, dominating Casey Cavaliers over four quarters to win 80-48. Nemuel Soliven (16 points), Harvey Moore (14) and David Amum (14) were terrific in the victory, while Ky Taylor (17) tried hard in the loss. Melbourne Tigers also enjoyed a smashing, dismantling Sunbury Jets, 69-36 including a 22-1 final term. Samuel Tanasic scored 19 points and Ihsaan Bongso shot 17 for the Tigers, while Ryder Rousch was the sole scorer in double figures for the Jets with 12. In the other game, Hawthorn Magic gained a much-needed 65-41 victory over Kilsyth Cobras. Denzel Timmons (19 points) and Ned Caldwell (14) were the dominant shooters for the Magic, while Zachary Fitzpatrick (12) was the top shooter for the Cobras in defeat.
