THE Bern Bruning Basketball stadium has been rocking with energy since the successful first home game of the Mount Gambier Pioneers Saturday night.
The quality basketball will continue tonight with the men’s and women’s South East Coast Basketball League grand finals.
Tip off for the women’s game is at 7.30pm between rivals Cougars and Saints.
Both teams have beaten each other twice in the first four encounters during the season, Cougars with a comprehensive 75-48 win last time they met.
Cougars head coach Bryan Green expects a hard fought game.
“These have been the best two teams all year and two sides that always play hard against each other,” he said.
The battle between the coaches will also be a game within the game.
“It is always really difficult to play against a team which is coached by Peter (Seebohm),” Green said.
“I have so much respect for his coaching.”
The game will boast some Pioneer talent.
The Cougars pair of Tenille Gray and Keryl Ousey will be important, as will Saints players Emily and Georgia Winter.
The men’s game will tip off at 8.45pm, with Roos up against Panthers.
Both teams have shown major improvement from the previous season where Panthers had an early exit from finals and Roos finished dead last.
Pioneer Brad Rathjen is proud of his young Panthers side.
“Making the grand final is pretty unexpected,” the young Pioneer said.
“Not many people would have thought we could get this far, but we came together at the right time and got some big wins.”
Roos have been a tough match up for Panthers all season, but Rathjen has faith his young side can get the job done.
“We have struggled with Roos throughout the season and this will be a tough game, but we know what we have to do to win and hopefully our young side can get it done,” he said.
During the season Roos overcame Panthers twice in their three matchups.
The most recent clash saw Roos with a 91-68 victory.
There is definitely an element of youth and athleticism versus age and experience in this matchup.
Roos head coach Peter Holmes looks forward to the matchup.
“I am really excited to take on the Panthers in the grand final,” he said.
“They are a young team led by Brad Rathjen who we need to contain.
“It should be a fast-paced tight contest and even though we finished third, we are in form and a good chance to bring the Barrie Holmes shield back to the Roos.”
