BASKETBALL
THE Big V finals series has arrived with four sides from the Mornington Peninsula ready to make their mark on Saturday 4 August.
The high flying Chelsea Gulls will enjoy a bye in the first week following their 14th straight victory against Whittlesea (92-79) in round 18, while the other three sides will contest the opening round.
The Southern Peninsula Sharks state championship women’s team were striving to land a home final and jump to fourth on the ladder following their round 18 match against Keilor Thunder, but were narrowly nudged out by the Hume City Broncos, despite their victory.
The Sharks will head into the finals in hot form having had just the one loss from their past six games, but will meet the team that handed them that one loss, Hume City Broncos, in the first round.
Southern Peninsula Sharks men’s division two side have also made their way into the finals and have secured a home game against the Melton Thoroughbreds.
The Sharks will head into the match brimming with confidence following their 11-point win over the Maccabi Warriors (75-64) in the final round of the season.
The last time the Sharks faced Melton, the Thoroughbreds got the upper-hand and secured a three-point victory in round 13.
The final side to secure their spot in the finals is the Western Port Steelers division one men’s team who will also head into the finals series with confidence after defeating the Shepparton Gators by two-points (89-87).
The Steelers were unlucky not to have jumped to second place on the ladder and land a bye through to the second round of the finals after bringing up their fourth consecutive victory.
The Steelers took their tally to 17 wins for the season and equalled that of Keysborough (second) and Shepparton (third), who both sit at 17. Due to their winning percentage, the Steelers finished fourth on the ladder.
However, unlike Keysborough and Shepparton, the Steelers head into the finals in good form having won their last four games.
They’ll face another side in hot form, the Warrnambool Seahawks, who have claimed wins in their last five matches. The Steelers will get the benefit of having a home final.
