THE South East Coast Basketball League A Grade Men’s winter season began last week, with some hard-fought games.
Both Bulldogs’ teams managed wins, along with Roos, to begin the season on a positive note.
ROOS 77 d PANTHERS 76
IN the closest contest of the night, Roos claimed a nail-biting victory over Panthers by a solitary point.
The first period saw an unsettled start by both teams before players started to hit their shots.
Panthers’ Kurt Rodis was on target from long range, with four three-point bombs early to give his side a strong start.
Brodie Jolley led Roos with six points for the quarter, but Panthers had the upper hand with a seven-point lead at the first break.
Roos started the second quarter with a flurry, with seven unanswered points to level the scores.
The game then continued shot for shot, with tight defensive pressure applied and strong rebounding at both ends of the floor, which saw Panthers hold a slender three-point advantage at the long break.
The third period was a tight contest, with neither team able to open a decisive margin.
Brodie Jolley featured strongly for Roos and led his team on a late run in the last two minutes of the period to be one point up heading into the final stanza.
Roos increased their lead early in the quarter before a fight back from Panthers saw them close the margin down.
However, Roos held their nerve and claim the win.
Malok Makuer topped the scoresheets for Roos with 27 points, while Jolley finished with 20.
Rodis finished with a game-high 29 points, with fellow Panther Jak Ryan on 18.
BULLDOGS BLUE 75 d COUGARS 67
BULLDOGS managed to record their first win of the season in a scrappy against Cougars.
Ben Young made his A Grade debut for the club in what was a high-pressure contest.
Cougars showed plenty of grit early, on target from outside the three-point arc, but in an even first period Bulldogs held a two-point lead first break.
In the second term both sides continued to make mistakes, but Cougars settled and went one goal up at the long break.
The third period saw Bulldogs running game take effect, with Cougars’ players tiring due to only having five on the floor and no bench for respite.
A lack defensive pressure saw Bulldogs open the margin to 16 points heading into the last quarter.
Bulldogs’ intensity dried up somewhat, but the win had been set up by their efforts in the third quarter.
Despite a late flurry of three-pointers from Cougars, Bulldogs held on for the first win of the season.
Simon Berkefeld finished with a game high 22 points for Bulldogs, along with 11 rebounds.
Nick Thomas top scored for Cougars with 21 points, which included an impressive six three-point bombs.
That highlighted the Cougars efforts from outside, where the side shot an impressive 14 triples for the game.
Bulldogs’ youngster Oscar Adams was impressive in his first outing, with 16 points and eight rebounds.
BULLDOGS RED 84 d CATS 56
IN the final game Bulldogs Red were in dominant form against Cats, with a 28-point victory.
Duncan Reid and Luke Black both finished with 17 points for the victors, with Shaun Lock on 15.
For the Cats Joshua Berry topped the list with 18 points, which included tour three-pointers, while Mason Galwey contributed 14.
