WOW! JUST WOW!

The GAME! The EXCITEMENT! The CROWD!

THE TITLE!

Re-live the game here!

Scott McKenzie has delivered a Championship in our very first year in fairytale ending. The ‘Gippsland Physiotherapy Group’ Gippsland United Men are BigV Division 2 Champions.

The game was an arm wrestle from the first whistle. Pakenham got out to a 9 point lead to start the game and were punishing the home team on transition, scoring at will. However the United team gained some composure and 2 timely three pointers from Billy Hughes the quarter ended with United only a single point in arrears.

The second and third quarter were a battle. The defensive intensity was through the roof with both teams not willing to give an inch. Pakenham lead at all three breaks and held a 2 point lead at 3/4 time.

The final term was a heart stopper, Gippsland United took the lead early in the quarter and jumped out to a 7 point lead. But the Pakenham Warriors were just not going to go away. Joe Davis, Josh Dow and Alistair Parker again showed why they are absolute superstars and willed their team back into the contest. With 2.41 left on the clock – Pakenham took a 2 point lead.

The tension in the home crowd was palpable and in an unforgettable night the GU men came home with the victory.

If I had to summarise, there were 3 reasons Gippsland United won the game on the night

1. Stephen O’Brien: 19 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, 3 blocks for the game. OB scored 10 points, and had a steal and block all in the final term and more importantly held League MVP Joe Davis to only 3 points in the fourth quarter. OB was absolutely incredible over the finals series and was unlucky not to be named finals MVP.
2. The Home Crowd: Close to 1000 spectators, with the majority being United fans turned up and SHOWED OUT on the night. The crowd noise was crazy, especially when Pakenham were at the foul line. You would have been mistaken if you thought there were 10,000 in the room. The fans successfully putting the Warriors off and forcing 5 missed free-throws in the final term. And then when the final siren sounded, the crowd rushed the floor to celebrate with the team. It took a good 10 minutes to clear the court for presentations to proceed.
3. Free Throws win games – From the 6:33 mark of the final term, United hit all 12/13 FT attempts. In a lesson for every junior athlete there to witness the victory, you could find a better example. Brandon Armstrong, Stephen O’Brien and Ben Barlow all stepping up under immense pressure.

Brandon Armstrong was awarded the Finals MVP with another outstanding performance finishing the series averaging: 22 points, 7 rebounds, 4 steals, 3 assists. Brandon’s cool head and leadership across both games demonstrated his importance to the team and the result.

Congratulations to everyone involved: Players, Coaches, Officials, Volunteers, Sponsors, Local Associations and Spectators for what has truly been an amazing year for Gippsland Basketball.

BRING ON 2023!