SOLD OUT!! – Camberwell Dragons have sold this event out. No entry will be granted without a ticket.
Youth League 1 Men Grand Final Previews
Frankston Blues vs Camberwell Dragons
Game 2 – Saturday 13th August 6.00PM at Balwyn High School
Game 3 (if required) – Sunday 14th August 2.30PM at Balwyn High School
In one of the biggest upsets of the season, the previously undefeated Camberwell Dragons went down in Game 1 of the Grand Final Series. The atmosphere down at Frankston was electric with the pots and pans causing havoc. It didn’t rattle the Dragons though who came out and imposed their usual calm and controlled style of play during the first half, taking a 15 point lead into the half time break.
However, it was a few hard-nosed defensive plays from Frankston to start the second half that brought them some momentum and got the crowd back involved in the game. Frankston simply would not allow anything easy for the Dragons and it was led by Vincent Monaghan (22 points, 13 rebounds) and Henry Pierce (13 points, 11 rebounds). For Camberwell, it was Jay Mackenzie (19 points, 11 rebounds, 3 blocks) and Tim Angus (18 points, 2 steals) that kept up the fight for the Dragons but it wasn’t enough as Frankston pulled away and took the upset victory.
Will the Dragons bounce back on their home floor this week? Get down to Balwyn High School this weekend to check it out.
Camberwell Coach Ross Wignell had this to say:
“Frankston’s second half against us in game one was outstanding. Their defensive intensity, offensive player and ball movement was exceptionally good. Lead by Vincent Monaghan, their starting line-up did a great job. We will need to provide a better defensive effort to curb Monaghan this weekend if we are to reverse last Saturday’s result. Coming back home for Game 2 and hopefully Game 3, fingers crossed, will give us an edge in what should be some entertaining basketball.”
Frankston Coach Duncan Berg had this to say:
“Game 1 was a pleasing result for our team and our club. A lot of work went into trying to match the levels of excellence that Camberwell had displayed all year long. They were head and shoulders above every other team this season and it was really important that we played well in Game 1. The Frankston supporters came out in force to produce an outstanding spectacle and our players were good enough to get a massive win. However, we know that we will see a different team in Game 2 – one that is driven and motivated for revenge with a raucous crowd cheering them on. Camberwell are outstanding at punishing opposition mistakes, so it will be critical that we look after the ball and keep their guards out of the lane and their bigs off the glass. Beating Camberwell is the biggest challenge in our league, and if we can take care of our business we have a chance to do something very special.”
| Game 1 Leaders | ||||
| Camberwell | Frankston | |||
| Jay Mackenzie | 19 | Points | Vincent Monaghan | 22 |
| Jackson Dean | 12 | Rebounds | Vincent Monaghan | 13 |
| Sam Veitch | 4 | Assists | Ben Perry | 10 |
| Jai Scales | +8 | Best +/- | Ben Perry | +25 |