HEADING into Round 7 of the Melbourne United Victorian Junior Basketball League (MUVJBL) Under 16 Boys competition, there are plenty of tight contests expected at both ends of the ladder in each pool.
Ashe Pool:
Dandenong Rangers (5th, 4-2) vs. Eltham Wildcats 2 (6th, 3-3)
Nunawading Spectres (8th, 1-5) vs. Diamond Valley Eagles (9th, 1-5)
Bendigo Braves (2nd, 5-1) vs. Southern Peninsula Sharks (7th, 2-4)
Knox Raiders (1st, 6-0) vs. Whittlesea Pacers (10th, 1-5)
Latrobe Energy (3rd, 4-2) vs. Keilor Thunder (4th, 4-2)
In the Ashe Pool, the top four clash between Latrobe Energy and Keilor Thunder is sure to turn heads, with Coby Burgiel (Latrobe, 23.2 points per game) the standout shooter this season along with Knox Raiders’ Jordan Anderson (30.5 points per game). The Raiders face the bottom of the table Whittlesea Pacers at home in what could be a one-sided contest. Matthew Ryan (17.8 points per game) has been strong for the Pacers, but they have won just one game from six starts. The other entertaining contest is between fifth placed Dandenong Rangers and sixth placed Eltham Wildcats 2, with Jerome Pierre (20.2 points per game) and Beau Tranter (15.5 points) among the top shooters in the league. Elsewhere, second placed Bendigo Braves host seventh placed Southern Peninsula Sharks, while eighth and ninth do battle to try and secure their second win with Nunawading Spectres hosting Diamond Valley Eagles.
Watson Pool:
Casey Cavaliers (7th, 1-4-1) vs. Waverley Falcons (5th, 3-3)
Geelong Supercats (2nd, 5-0-1) vs. Bulleen Boomers (1st, 6-0)
Melbourne Tigers (9th, 1-5) vs. Sunbury Jets (10th, 0-6)
Pakenham Warriors (3rd, 5-0-1) vs. Eltham Wildcats (4th, 4-2)
Hawthorn Magic (6th, 2-4) vs. Kilsyth Cobras (8th, 1-4-1)
In the Watson Pool, a top-of-the-table and bottom two clash will ensure close contests around the courts. Geelong Supercats have won four on the trot since drawing with Pakenham Warriors and remain unbeaten, while Bulleen Boomers are yet to drop a game in an impressive start to the season. Bulleen has no shortage of talented shooters with Daniel Poelsma, Marcel Haj, Daniel Johnston all in the top 12 for points this season. At the other end of the table, Melbourne Tigers take on the winless Sunbury Jets with the Tigers themselves hoping to snap a three-game losing streak. Meanwhile Blake Shankland (19.6 points per game) and the Casey Cavaliers will be hoping to go back-to-back with wins after finally breaking through for their first victory in Round 6 after four consecutive losses, when they face fifth placed Waverley Falcons. Otherwise the undefeated Pakenham Warriors host fourth placed Eltham Wildcats to try and get some separation in the top three, while sixth placed Hawthorn Magic hosts Kilsyth Cobras.
