MELBOURNE Tigers were unable to recover from a slow start in the Big V Youth Championship Men’s competition over the weekend, falling to Geelong United by nine points in Round 11 of the 2025 season.

Both sides have been underperforming to date, falling behind in the standings and currently out of the finals places as it stands on the ladder. However, with still plenty of rounds to come, Friday night’s clash at The Geelong Arena loomed as the perfect opportunity to get back on the winner’s list.

Geelong United got off to a flying start and it proved definitive in the course of the match, with the Tigers unable to overcome the deficit en route a nine-point defeat on the road to kickstart the round.

Geelong United (89) def. Melbourne Tigers (80)

The first quarter was a high-scoring affair, with the home side off to an excellent start in terms of offensive production, scoring the first five points of the game and then eventually pushing that margin out to double-digits. A late basket to Melbourne’s Kobe Shewry cut the margin back down to four points at quarter time, but it was undoubtedly the home side that looked better in the opening frame.

For much of the second period, it was United again who looked like the better side, pushing their buffer out to 12 points. However, the Tigers answered in the final minutes of the half, with Shewry again prominent with a personal 5-0 run to drag the Tigers back into the contest. However, Geelong’s Evan Juros threw down a dunk through contact, and converted the and-one to see United leading by nine points at the main break.

The Tigers were much improved in the third quarter, drawing as close as two points to show it was still well and truly game on despite United controlling much of the first half. The margin sat around that mark for much of the term, before a late run to Geelong through interior offence saw the margin push back out to seven points.

The Tigers remained in the hunt for much of the final frame, and were within five points in the dying stages of the game. Given how easily both sides were scoring throughout the entire match, there was every chance Melbourne could go on another run. However, United were clutch at the free throw line, and their composure at the charity stripe was the final nail in the coffin.

Phillip Wickham was the leading scorer for Geelong United, posting 23 points on 10/18 shooting from the field and a perfect 2/2 shooting from behind the arc. Joshua Norling was not far behind with 22 points of his own to go with five rebounds and seven assists, while Ryan Drinkwater posted a 16-point, 11-rebound double-double.

For the Tigers, Kai Garnaut was a tremendous presence and the clear standout, stuffing the stat sheet with 22 points, 12 rebounds and eight assists, seemingly involved in everything in a dominant performance, while Shewry was excellent with 22 points as well, keeping his side in the game with strong shotmaking.

Across the courts

Sandringham (90) def. Keysborough (74)
Dandenong (117) def. Hume City (83)
Diamond Valley (79) def. by Casey (80)
Waverley (81) def. by Frankston (113)
Keysborough (100) def. Hume City (74)
Casey (85) def. Geelong United (74)
Eltham (95) def. Waverley (73)
Wyndham (102) def. Sandringham (92)
Kilsyth (97) def. Keilor (69)
Frankston (76) def. Knox (66)
Nunawading (97) def. Melbourne (54)