By Tara Murray
Sunbury Jets managed to hold off a strong second half comeback by the Bulleen Boomers to progress to the next round of the Big V men’s division 1 finals.
The Jets came out firing in the first half and led by as many as 22 points, but that lead quickly evaporated in the third quarter, with the Boomers outscoring them 24-6.
With the game and their season on the line, the Jets responded, going on to win 90-82.
Jets coach Ryan Addison said for parts of the game they showed the basketball that had held them in good stead all season.
“We got the ball moving and made good leads in offense and we got the defensive rotation working.
“They threw some different things at us. They tried to make someone else shoot besides Ish [Sanders] which we were able to handle.”
Addison said they expected the Boomers to come back at them in the second half but the Jets were slow to adjust to the changes the Boomers had made in the third quarter.
He was confident though that they could respond late in the game.
“They got it down to four points at the end of the third,” he said.
“We’ve had times this year we’ve had to hold on to get wins. We haven’t necessarily had the high scoring wins.
“It was good to hold on to the lead down the stretch.
“We stuck with our style of basketball.”
All five Jets starters scored double figures –Sanders leading the way with 26 points.
The Jets are hopeful that Joel Jeffrey will return from injury this weekend.
The Jets face Shepparton Gators in a best of three series over the next two weekends, with a grand final spot on the line.
Addison said it will be a good test against the Gators.
“They’re the only team we haven’t beaten this year,” he said.
“I’m fairly confident we can beat them, both times we haven’t been at full strength.
“Last time we lost to them by a point.”
The Sunbury Jets’ women’s side will start their finals campaign this weekend.
They will face Keilor Thunder at home.
Addison said they were hoping to get a big crowd to come and watch both matches.
