THE first teams of the Under 18 Girls’ Melbourne United Victorian Junior Basketball League (MUVJBL) have been eliminated from the race to the championship division, while four more teams secured their spots in the top grade for the 2019 season. We review how each pool fared in the second phase of grading.
Pool 1:
1st Broadmeadows
2nd Waverley
3rd Eltham
4th Melbourne 2
In the first pool, Broadmeadows was the clear dominant side, easily moving through to the championship division, finishing undefeated in the pool with a massive percentage of 163.46. The top side knocked off second and third placed sides, Waverley and Eltham who were relatively evenly matched, while Melbourne’s second side was eliminated from championship contention.
Pool 2:
1st Dandenong 2
2nd Frankston
3rd McKinnon
4th Collingwood
Dandenong Rangers’ second side, and Frankston Blues both stood out in the second pool . of the Under 18 Girls, with the Rangers advancing through to join their first side in the championship division. Frankston faces Eltham Wildcats for a spot in the top grade, while McKinnon Cougars will need to defeat Waveley Hawks if they are to advance through to the championship.
Pool 3:
1st Diamond Valley
2nd Melbourne
3rd Ringwood
4th Sunbury
In what was honestly an obliteration of its opponents, Diamond Valley stormed to the automatic promotion in pool 3. The Eagles showed no mercy on their way to an undefeated phase two group stage, finishing with a percentage of 219.54. Melbourne also looked impressive in the group, finishing second well clear of Ringwood who knocked off Sunbury for the other spot in the crossover elimination matches.
Pool 4:
1st Pakenham
2nd Warrandyte
3rd Werribee
4th Bulleen 2
In the final pool, Pakenham automatically qualified for the championship division, going through the phase two group stage undefeated much like its fellow qualifiers in the other pools. Warrandyte secured the vital second spot, meaning it will take on Ringwood in the crossover elimination match, rather than Melbourne, which is the task Werribee faces for the Devils to qualify for the championship.
Under 18 Girls Crossover Round:
Frankston vs. Eltham
Waverley vs. McKinnon
Melbourne vs. Werribee
Warrandyte vs. Ringwood
Qualified for championship division:
Broadmeadows
Dandenong 2
Diamond Valley
Pakenham
