Magic Are The Champions!
Added 27 August 2007
Taking a 1-0 grand final series lead to Mildura, the Magic were hoping the wrap up the series and the BigV Division One Mens premiership in game two on Saturday night. A small but vocal travelling party of Magic fans saw the Magic get off to a dream start with Jay Allen leading the Magic with 3 bombs from downtown en route to a 11-0 lead. However, the Mildura Heat pegged the Magic back with a run of their own to take a 22-21 quarter time lead. Mildura continued their dominance of the match in the next two quarters with where foul trouble was a problem for the Magic as they struggled to contain Glen Barlow inside with Steve Carter, Seb Belfrage, Stewart Cameron, Boyd Smart and Paul Kopanidis all having a go at stopping Mildura's centre. The fourth quarter saw the Magic rally to within 2 points, but Jake Zoch and Matt Gange, who had struggled throughout the match made some big buckets to even the series at 1 each. The Heat taking game two 90-80. For the Magic, Allen finished with a game high 29 points but lacked the support required for a road victory.
The Magic returned to the Mildura Basketball Stadium the next day and had to do it the hard way with a decisive game three on the road if they wanted to take the honours. The early exchanges saw both teams struggle to gain an advantage. The Magic pounded the ball into Seb Belfrage early to ensure that Mildura star Glen Barlow was being worked at both ends of the floor. Mid way through the first quarter, a shootout between the Magic's Matt Slaven and the Heat's Jason Spratt took place with both players making a series of long range jump shots. Honours even at the first break 26-26.
The second quarter saw the Magic big men take over the game with Steve Carter getting to the rim and Seb Belfrage with a series of put backs. Matt Slaven continued his shooting streak as the Magic pushed the lead out to 6 points at the half, 58-52.
Hawthorn continued to control most of the third quarter holding a 5 point lead for most of the quarter before Matt Gange took over the match. Gange led a Heat charge which resulted in a 25-15 third quarter for Mildura which left the Heat with a 4 point lead going into the final quarter and left them with all the momentum. The Magic were left weary and frustrated with their poor decision making on offence as the Mildura crowd lifted the volume in the stadium.
The Heat continued to put the numbers on the scoreboard as they started strongly in the final quarter stretching the lead. The Magic were down and almost out of the contest before coach Glenn Rees called upon Brenton Lenaghan who had not hit the court at all the entire grand final series. Lenaghan sparked the Magic with 7 quick points, restoring their lead and also haulted the offence of Matt Gange. The lead changed many times as both teams played with desperation as errors crept into the play. Boyd Smart was the key for the Magic in the final quarter as they struggled to gain an advantage. The game was in the balance and went right down to the wire. Mildura held a 1 point lead with 2 minutes remaining until Smart hit a running layup with the shot clock winding down to give the Magic a one point lead. Neither team managed to score on the next few trips down the floor until Jay Allen was foulled with 14 seconds remaining. Fittingly, it was the Magic leader who held the Magic's hopes in his hands as he stepped to the free throw line. Allen calmly nailed both shots to give the Magic a 3 point lead. Mildura came back down the floor requiring a 3 pointer to send the game into overtime. However, they were unable to get a shot off as the ball was knocked loose into the greatful hands of Warren Staples as the clock expired. Magic were premiers for the first time in the club's senior history!
Hawthorn's team game was the difference in the end as Mildura's lack of depth wasn't able to match the Magic's deep bench. An even team performance featuring double figures from Allen, Slaven, Belfrage, Carter and Smart along with the telling stat of 26-2 bench points in Hawthorn's favour which was the decisive factor. The 3 big men for the Magic Smart, Carter and Belfrage combined for 37 rebounds. For Mildura, Matt Gange finished with 30 points and Glen Barlow had 24 points and 16 rebounds.
Jay Allen captured Finals MVP honours with a combined total of 71 points, 12 rebounds, 10 assists and 4 steals for the series.
Following the post game presentation, the Magic headed into the changerooms for a loud and proud performance of the team song before hopping on the 5pm flight out of Mildura. The trophy will have pride of place at the Boroondara Sports Complex with the championship banner hanging from the rafters!
