The distinguishable screeching of rubber sole shoes on wooden floorboards echoed inside the four walls of Gippsland Regional Sports Complex on Wednesday night, as Little Apples Basketball League’s top teams met on centre court for the Season 7 Grand Final.
Finishing Season 7 in top position, losing just one game, Avon Timber entered the Grand Final favourites. Their opponents, Sale Greyhound Club, entered with everything to prove.
After a nail-biting, hair-pulling, gasp-inducing match, Sale Greyhound Club proved victorious in one of the best Grand Finals in Little Apples Basketball League’s short history – fitting as the game marked the end of the Little Apples Basketball League.
Living up to expectations, Avon Timber started like a bull out of the gate, with big man Mitch Leeds pulling down every rebound on offer, quickly finding the ring or passing off to someone who could. There were no answers from the underdogs; Sale Greyhounds couldn’t buy a bucket, and by half-time, Avon led by 20 points, 25 to 5.
Returning for quarter three, an opportunity for Sale Greyhounds to get back into the game arose; Leeds was on the bench.
The underdogs well and truly capitalised on the opportunity, with swift play from Glen Gocotano and Dylan O’Shanassy quickly closing Avon’s lead to 15 points.
Quarter number four, the last dash, the final battle; started with a bang.
Like dogs pursuing a mechanical rabbit around an enclosed track, Sale Greyhounds were hot off the mark, leaving Avon Timber dazed after a shooting spree saw the underdogs close the margin to six points in the opening minutes.
Did it just get hot in here?
Teams turned up the heat, and team captains Ross Bennell (Sale Greyhounds), and Andrew Quirk (Avon Timber), collected tech fouls as tempers flared.
After nine attempts, Sale Greyhounds Riley Cottrell finally drained a 3-pointer, closing the margin, the lead now within two points.
With a 3-pointer from Gocotano, Sale Greyhounds were in the lead for the first time, leading Avon by one with just minutes remaining.
Spectators roared, cheers reverberating against the GRSC glass windows, echoing briefly before disappearing into the next wave of deafening roars.
Heads followed play, left to right, back and forth, back and forth.
Spectators took to their feet; others found their nails between their teeth.
A late foul to Avon Timber awarded Brad Trease two free throws; virtually no time remaining, two chances to win the game.
Breaker shoots; he misses.
On and off the court, tension brewed like molten rock inside a ready-to-erupt volcano.
Breaker shoots; he misses. That’s the game.
Sale Greyhounds bewildered opponents and spectators alike, claiming the premiership title, an extra memorable win for captain Ross Bennell, being one of the league founders.
It was the winning team’s Dylan O’Shanassy who was named Grand Final MVP, collecting a total of 12 votes. Quirk and Leeds followed with seven and five votes.
Jherson Rullen from team Turnbull Toyota was crowned winner of the ‘Randy Sanchez Sauce Co. three-point comp’, sinking eight out of 15 shots.
Reflecting on its history, Little Apples Basketball League founder Cameron Churchill says the seventh and final season had been his favourite.
“There was no clear favourite for the flag, a battle to make finals, and I nearly hit a three,” Churchill said.
“It was the most competitive season we have had, there are a good nine to 10 blokes in contention for the MVP award, and my favourite player, Hayden John, showed the league he is the boss!”
While Little Apples Basketball League has come to an end, Churchill and Bennell are not yet done with basketball, amalgamating their league with the Sale Amateur Basketball Association in the coming year.
“The best part of the Little Apples has been playing competitive games of basketball, amongst a wide range of blokes, and the friendships and bonds it has created between people who would have never met before,” Churchill said.
“What I take away most from Little Apples Basketball is how positive team sport can play in the battle against mental health in men. The social interaction it creates and the way the league was structured to include people from all walks of life has been so great to see.”
