By Tara Murray
Bendigo Braves again showed why they are the dominant force in the Country Basketball League women’s north-west competition, beating the Kyneton Tigers in the grand final.
The Braves made it back-to-back titles, as they accounted for the Tigers for a second straight season on Saturday night.
It’s the third time the Tigers have lost the grand final to the Braves.
The Braves were able to find another level when it counted most for Saturday night’s grand final.
In front of their home crowd it was a dominant display to lead from start to finish, 110-55.
It was the third straight game the Braves had scored more than 90 and third time for the season they had passed 100.
Tigers coach Ash Clark said it was a tough night for the side.
“They were awesome,” he said. “They were too good and they blew it out of the window.
“We just didn’t have the answers.”
The Braves jumped away to a 29-14 lead at quarter time, before extending the lead to 36 points at half time.
Clark said they had spoken about starting well but nothing they tried would come off and the Braves were hitting all their shots.
The game was all but over, but the Braves didn’t let up and kept the Tigers to just eight points for the quarter as the margin passed 50.
Both sides turned to their benches in the last quarter.
The Tigers finished off strongly to win the final quarter 20-17 but it was too little too late.
Mother and daughter duo Michelle Fletcher and Jaz Young both scored 12 points each for the Tigers to lead the scoring.
Clark said there was no shame in losing to a side like that.
“They have been the benchmark ever since I came into the competition,” he said.
Clark said the performances of the younger ones like Young, Bridie Conway and Elsie Noonan excited him for the side’s future.
It wasn’t all bad news for the Tigers with three players recognised in the individual player awards.
Brooke Mangan was named one of two defensive players of the year for the north-west along with Melton Thoroughbreds’ Ameir Majur.
Alex Strawhorn and Michelle Fletcher were both named in the all-star five side. Clark said Fletcher was playing better than when she started with the Tigers.
Clark said he was so proud of what the group had been able to achieve.
“It was a lot more of a battle this year,” he said. “A lot are in their mid-20s and they had a life.
“Training has been spasmodic and we’ve had to fight through everything
“Credit to them.”
The loss ends Clarks time as coach of the side as he steps away.
He said they need the right coach to take them to the next level.
Ï’ve loved my time here, especially the last two years,” he said. “I’ll still be around, just not coaching.”’
Castlemaine Cannons won the men’s final.
