Hawthorn win D1M Championship

Added 27 August 2007

BigV Basketball

Mildura 90 dft Hawthorn 80

It was desperation stakes for Mildura being one down in the Grand Final Series, but back in front of their home crowd with big expectations after finishing on top of the ladder. The Heat have been good this season under pressure and this was proven again with a 10 point win over the Magic forcing the series into a deciding game three.

The home team didn't have it all their own way. Especially in the first quarter when Hawthorn got out to a 11 - 0 lead after just 3 minutes. Things couldn't have looked worse for Mildura, but Glen Barlow was in a zone and determined to get the heat back in the series. He ended up with 11 points for the quarter as the Heat took a one point lead into quarter time, 22 - 21. Hawthorn captain Jay Allen was again leading his charges with 11 points (including 3/5 three-pointers).

In the second term, Mildura Coach Russell Knights put the experience Jason Spratt on Allen, but it still didn't stop him from hitting another 11 points to give him 22 at half time. Barlow had a very quiet term score wise for the Heat with just 2 points, but he added 6 rebounds and 3 assists getting others involved in the game. David Meyer and Spratt both had 10 points at the main break. Mildura extended the lead to 5 points, 49 - 44.

Scoring got a bit tougher in the third quarter, with the home team holding Hawthorn to just 16 points for the quarter while hitting 19 themselves, extending the lead to 8 going into the last quarter.

The final quarter saw the Magic trying to get back into the game, getting back within 2 points with 8 minutes remaining. However, Mildura settled and with Barlow hitting 7 points for the quarter and grabbing 7 rebounds, the Series went into a third game.

Leading scorer for the game was Jay Allen with 29 points in a great display under extreme pressure from Spratt. Boyd Smart and Matt Slaven had 11 and 10 points respectively. For Mildura, Glen Barlow was in the zone finishing with 23 points and a huge 17 rebounds (15 defensive), Spratt 18 points, Jake Zoch 15, David Meyer 12 and Matt Gange 11 points.

Hawthorn 89 dft Mildura 86

It may have taken them three years, but the Hawthorn Magic have finally done it, claiming themselves the Division One Men's Championship after beating top of the ladder Mildura in three games.

A loss last night didn't do much to deter Hawthorn's game today, the game almost going basket for basket. It was a dead heat at the end of the first term with 26 points apiece, Hawthorn pushing out to have a 6 point lead at the half time break.

But with a home crowd cheering them on, Mildura stepped up the pace in the third quarter scoring 25 points to Hawthorn's 15 to take a 4 point lead into the third term with the game still very much up for grabs. The game continued to go down to the wire with just one point in it with one minute to go, in the end some quick thinking from the Magic side just enough to give them the three points as the final buzzer sounded.

Once again Mildura's Matthew Gange did not disappoint, top scoring for the match with 30 points with support from Glen Barlow with 24 points and 16 rebounds, but the night belonged to Hawthorn who once again played a team game that attributed to their win.

Jay Allen earned himself MVP honours for the series with 17 points for Game Three, teamed with 17 points from Boyd Smart and 16 points from Matt Slaven. With a deep bench that saw them score 26 points to Mildura's 2, Hawthorn will no doubt be celebrating well into the week after their long awaited win.

MVP: Jay Allen

Courtesy of www.bigv.com.au