U14 Boys A Grade: Heathdale Hornets 18 lost to St Andrews Jets 28
The Heathdale Hornets Under 14 Boys took on the St Andrews Jets in the A Grade Grand Final. The Jets were undefeated all season and top of the ladder, while the Hornets finished second with 11 wins and three losses. The teams met three times during the season and two of them were close contests. In Round 3 the Jets won 22-19, in Round 9 it was 29-16 and in their most recent meeting the Hornets just fell short, 28-25.
The Hornets were undersized and only had five players, so they were behind the eight-ball from the start. Connor was fouled early on and made both free throws to open the scoring for the Hornets. St Andrews then went on a nice little run, thanks largely to Harrison White who had 15 points for the game. Finding themselves down 13-3, the Hornets mounted a challenge, with Connor and Nash scoring four points each in quick time. Together with great defensive pressure from Kane and Jack, the Hornets ensured we had a game on our hands, going into half time down 12-14. Connor and Nash were the Hornets only scorers in the half, with six points each.
Tevyn tied the game up with the first basket of the second half but then the Jets scored six consecutive points to skip away to a handy lead. Connor got one back, but regular fouls were giving the Jets too many opportunities to extend their lead. When Tevyn scored again it brought the Hornets back within 18-23 but once again the Jets got away through successful foul shots and then Nash got fouled off with 1:20 remaining, leaving the underdogs with four players on the court. The final score was 28-18 in favour of the green mob, capping off a great season for them. Well done also to the Hornets who persevered and persisted, pushing their taller, more rested opponents for the whole 40 minutes. Nash led the Hornets with eight points, Connor scored six and Tevyn had four points.
U12 Boys A Grade: Heathdale Hornets 23 lost to Flames Embers 25
The Heathdale Hornets Under 12 Boys came up against Flames Embers in their A Grade Grand Final. Flames had dominated the season, winning 11 out of 12 games with a percentage of 229, while the Hornets finished third with 8 wins and 4 losses. They earned their way into the Grand Final by toppling second placed St Peters 37-24 in the semi-final.
I was informed by one of the parents that the Hornets chances of winning were “about 5 percent if we’re lucky,” but in a bonus for the underdogs, Flames were without their big centre Josh which gave the Hornets an advantage and made their big guy Mekhi the tallest player on the court.
Kyan kicked off the scoring for the Hornets with a free throw and Flames quickly replied with a couple of baskets. The Hornets initially struggled to get their defence right, with several fouls in quick succession. Eventually things started to click up the defensive end and their pressure, led by smalls Kyan, Jesse and Austin forced the Flames to pass the ball around the outside and they struggled to find a way in. Up the other end though, the Hornets were taking full advantage of the absence of Flames centre Josh, getting plenty of rebounds and shots up but they just weren’t going in. Paul, Lachlan, Mekhi and Austin all contributed baskets or free throws late in the half and the Hornets went into half time with a one point lead, 9-8.
Mekhi struck first for the Hornets in the second half, thanks to a clever pass from Jack keeping the ball inbounds. Jack joined the list of scorers next with a nice jump shot and then Flames replied with two baskets of their own. Jacob and Daniel made free throws and Jesse took on the defence and scored off an excellent drive, and all of a sudden the hornets were up 18-12 and looking the goods.
However, in basketball things can turn around in an instant and they did thanks to Flames #22 Nicholas, who scored two big three-pointers in quick succession and scores were level with four minutes to play. Mekhi scored twice and was answered quickly. Kyan made a free throw but then Flames #4 Jacob was fouled, the basket counted and he converted the bonus throw.
With 57 seconds remaining a timeout was called with the score tied at 23-23. Flames #52 Marlon had been dangerous all game and with four seconds to go he drove the ball, was fouled and the shot went in, giving Flames a two point lead 25-23. He failed to convert the free throw but the Hornets didn’t transition the ball in time, meaning Flames had won the Grand Final 25-23. In a positive for the Hornets, all nine players got on the scoresheet in a good even team performance. Mekhi led the team with nine points; Kyan, Paul, Austin, Jesse, Jack and Jacob each scored two points, while Lachlan and Daniel scored one point each.
The Heathdale Hornets Under 14 Boys took on the St Andrews Jets in the A Grade Grand Final. The Jets were undefeated all season and top of the ladder, while the Hornets finished second with 11 wins and three losses. The teams met three times during the season and two of them were close contests. In Round 3 the Jets won 22-19, in Round 9 it was 29-16 and in their most recent meeting the Hornets just fell short, 28-25.
The Hornets were undersized and only had five players, so they were behind the eight-ball from the start. Connor was fouled early on and made both free throws to open the scoring for the Hornets. St Andrews then went on a nice little run, thanks largely to Harrison White who had 15 points for the game. Finding themselves down 13-3, the Hornets mounted a challenge, with Connor and Nash scoring four points each in quick time. Together with great defensive pressure from Kane and Jack, the Hornets ensured we had a game on our hands, going into half time down 12-14. Connor and Nash were the Hornets only scorers in the half, with six points each.
Tevyn tied the game up with the first basket of the second half but then the Jets scored six consecutive points to skip away to a handy lead. Connor got one back, but regular fouls were giving the Jets too many opportunities to extend their lead. When Tevyn scored again it brought the Hornets back within 18-23 but once again the Jets got away through successful foul shots and then Nash got fouled off with 1:20 remaining, leaving the underdogs with four players on the court. The final score was 28-18 in favour of the green mob, capping off a great season for them. Well done also to the Hornets who persevered and persisted, pushing their taller, more rested opponents for the whole 40 minutes. Nash led the Hornets with eight points, Connor scored six and Tevyn had four points.
U12 Boys A Grade: Heathdale Hornets 23 lost to Flames Embers 25
The Heathdale Hornets Under 12 Boys came up against Flames Embers in their A Grade Grand Final. Flames had dominated the season, winning 11 out of 12 games with a percentage of 229, while the Hornets finished third with 8 wins and 4 losses. They earned their way into the Grand Final by toppling second placed St Peters 37-24 in the semi-final.
I was informed by one of the parents that the Hornets chances of winning were “about 5 percent if we’re lucky,” but in a bonus for the underdogs, Flames were without their big centre Josh which gave the Hornets an advantage and made their big guy Mekhi the tallest player on the court.
Kyan kicked off the scoring for the Hornets with a free throw and Flames quickly replied with a couple of baskets. The Hornets initially struggled to get their defence right, with several fouls in quick succession. Eventually things started to click up the defensive end and their pressure, led by smalls Kyan, Jesse and Austin forced the Flames to pass the ball around the outside and they struggled to find a way in. Up the other end though, the Hornets were taking full advantage of the absence of Flames centre Josh, getting plenty of rebounds and shots up but they just weren’t going in. Paul, Lachlan, Mekhi and Austin all contributed baskets or free throws late in the half and the Hornets went into half time with a one point lead, 9-8.
Mekhi struck first for the Hornets in the second half, thanks to a clever pass from Jack keeping the ball inbounds. Jack joined the list of scorers next with a nice jump shot and then Flames replied with two baskets of their own. Jacob and Daniel made free throws and Jesse took on the defence and scored off an excellent drive, and all of a sudden the hornets were up 18-12 and looking the goods.
However, in basketball things can turn around in an instant and they did thanks to Flames #22 Nicholas, who scored two big three-pointers in quick succession and scores were level with four minutes to play. Mekhi scored twice and was answered quickly. Kyan made a free throw but then Flames #4 Jacob was fouled, the basket counted and he converted the bonus throw.
With 57 seconds remaining a timeout was called with the score tied at 23-23. Flames #52 Marlon had been dangerous all game and with four seconds to go he drove the ball, was fouled and the shot went in, giving Flames a two point lead 25-23. He failed to convert the free throw but the Hornets didn’t transition the ball in time, meaning Flames had won the Grand Final 25-23. In a positive for the Hornets, all nine players got on the scoresheet in a good even team performance. Mekhi led the team with nine points; Kyan, Paul, Austin, Jesse, Jack and Jacob each scored two points, while Lachlan and Daniel scored one point each.
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