William Stewart gets to the rim under pressure. Photos: Wayne Herring.
Seymour has one hand on the minor premiership in the Country Basketball League North East Men’s competition, having secured a come-from-behind victory at the weekend to move a win clear at the top of the ladder with one game remaining before finals.
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Facing third-placed Shepparton Gators on the road on Sunday afternoon, the Blasters overturned a half-time deficit and saw off a late challenge to claim the 64-61 win, ensuring they remain in the box seat to finish on top of the ladder as the regular season draws to a close this weekend.
A see-sawing first term at Shepparton Sports Stadium saw the Gators claim the initial lead, before Seymour worked itself into the contest to hit the front for the first time midway through the quarter, and while Shepparton forced another lead change shortly after, a late free-throw ensured it was the Blasters that held a slender 16-15 lead at the first break.
It was more of the same as the two sides swapped the lead early in the second, however a strong patch in the middle of the quarter saw Shepparton open up a game-high eight-point advantage at 32-24, before a Robbie Sartori three-pointer to close out the half saw the Blasters head into the main break down by five.
As had been the case all afternoon, Seymour found the front in the third, scoring 10 of the first 14 points to overturn the five-point half-time deficit and go ahead 41-38, and while Shepparton found the front by a point late, Harry Stones finished off the term with two buckets to ensure the Blasters won the quarter 16-8 and headed into the final break with a 45-42 advantage.
The constant momentum shifts did not subside in the last, despite Seymour going up by six points midway through the term. When the Gators found a one-point lead at 53-52, it was immediately countered by the Blasters, who didn’t relinquish the lead from that point, seeing off the late challenge to claim the 64-61 victory.
Tyler Best top-scored with 17 points for the Blasters, well supported by Stones (15), William Stewart (13) and Sartori (10).
Having entered round eight on top of the ladder but only by percentage, the Blasters now lead by a win with one game remaining, as second-placed Wallan fell to Shepparton on Saturday to give Seymour breathing room at the top.
Only a catastrophic defeat to the winless Myrtleford in the final round, combined with a big Wallan victory over Shepparton, can deny the Blasters top spot, although victory on Saturday against the Saints will ensure the minor premiership belongs to Seymour regardless of other results.
Matilda Skora controls the ball down the court.
There is cause for celebration for Seymour in the North East Women’s competition, too, with the Blasters’ spot in the post-season made official despite falling to bottom-placed Shepparton.
Having led by two points at half-time, a third-quarter slump saw the Blasters trail by six points heading into the final term, and despite winning the last quarter 20-17, it wasn’t enough to claim the win, going down 61-64 despite a 23-point effort from Chloe Dimkopoulos.
Akeisha Watson (16 points) and Kasey Lennox (11) were also in the double digits.
While the loss would have no doubt been disappointing, there is a silver-lining to come out of the weekend.
Shepparton’s loss to Wallan on Saturday officially sealed Seymour’s spot in the post-season, a scenario which was already more than likely, with the Blasters now unable to finish lower than fourth spot heading into the final round of games this weekend.
