By Tara Murray
Sunbury Jets’ bid for its first youth league men’s championship remains alive with the Jets through to the Big V division 1 grand final series.
The Jets dominated this season to claim the minor premiership and lifted when they needed to against Geelong Supercats on Saturday night.
Jets coach Lisa Townsend said the 91-81 win was one of the best performances she had seen from the group this year.
“They kept coming at us,” she said.
“Our boys, to their credit, they took another step up when we needed to.
“We did what we needed to down the defensive end.”
It was the Jets leaders who led the way.
Captain Nathan Baker played all 40 minutes, scoring 19 points and took 14 rebounds, while Kyle Collins scored 22 points. Nathan Marshall had 13 points and 10 assists.
The win puts the Jets through to their first grand final since 2009, when they made the youth league division 2 grand final.
Townsend said they worked out early on that they had a special group of players.
Several players had played in the open men’s team, but had returned to youth league to rediscover their love of the game.
She said they had originally set their aim at making finals.
“We have played well, 20-2 throughout the year, [we’re] pretty happy and excited to be where we ended up,” she said.
“We knew we would finish in the top two four weeks ago, it was about getting through unscathed and prepare for finals.
“This is a first for the boys and
it’s a credit to them. The boys know the job isn’t done … they want that championship.”
The Jets play Waverley Falcons in a three game grand final series. The first game is away, before game two, and if needed game three, at Sunbury.
“Hopefully we can nail that first game away. We’re tough to beat at home and have proven that,” Townsend said.
Meanwhile, the Jets’ youth league women’s division 1 will enter the finals after a loss against McKinnon Cougars.
