Our ‘Gippsland Physiotherapy Group’ Gippsland United Men take Game 1 and our Women’s season comes to a close.

Finishing 5th meant that our Women would have to win three games away before a Grand Final berth. After a huge win against Wallan the team travelled to RMIT to face Gippsland’s own Sammy Labros.

RMIT exploded in the first half, shooting 49% from the field and taking a 24 point lead into half time. The home team were just too strong, with four players scoring 17 points+ and Sammy Labros 28 points. It was a tremendous offensive display that United could find a way to stop.

In the second half, young gun Asha Nightingale did her best to pull the team back into a position to win and gallantly finished the game with 24 points and 6 rebounds. In what was an up and down season, the Women did a brilliant job to make the top 5 and win their first final. The future looks very bright for the team with some bright young stars who will only improve with the experience.

The Men travelled to Wallan and came home with a 21 point win. You’d be forgiven if you looked at the end result and thought it was an easy win, however it was far from that. It was a arm wrestle to the very end when some ill discipline from the home team resulted in multiple technical fouls – gifting United a quick 5 points. From there the team pushed ahead to the final winning margin.

The game started with Brandon Armstrong (29p, 6r, 8a in a player of the game performance) start with a red hot hand, hitting everything. Brandon was unstoppable in the first term but Wallan kept in touch by some terrific 3pt shooting from Jordan Hockley (17p, 9a).

The end of the first quarter saw young gun Kody Tibballs hit a full court shot on the buzzer to give United a 4 point lead. Unsurprisingly the crowd went crazy for the shot as it was something special to witness. Kody played his best game for the club, his impact on both ends of the floor is invaluable for coach Scott McKenzie and really impressive for someone just 18 years of age. Kody ended the game with 18 points, 3 assists, 7 rebounds and 2 steals. He even lined up on Wallan best player and big man Arcaim Lallemand.

Wallan now travel to play us at home on Saturday night.

7pm @ GRISS

Come on down, it what is a fantastic and important occasion, Gippsland’s United first home final! The bar will be open and we want a big crowd to cheer the Men to a vicotry.

(This is a best of 3 finals series so if required a 3rd game will be played at 1pm Sunday @ GRISS)