There are only two rounds left in the Big V regular season and the fortunes of Whittlesea Pacers, Hume City Broncos and Craigieburn Eagles are on the line. Here’s a look at the run home for the three clubs’ senior sides and their chances of making finals.
State championship men
Hume City Broncos
Ladder position: 9th
Games left: Corio Bay, Whittlesea, Eltham
It was the worst possible result for the Broncos on the weekend losing both its matches and its finals hopes are just about gone too. The Broncos were expected to win their first match of the weekend against Hawthorn, which is 11th on the ladder, but instead went down in a nailbiter. Nothing separated the two teams all day with the Hawks losing 82-81. Shaun Prendergast top scored with 23 points. In the second game for the weekend, the Broncos were totally outclassed by Waverley, losing 118-68. The two losses see the Broncos slip from seventh to ninth on the ladder and two wins behind the sixth-placed McKinnon. The Broncos’ season will be decided this weekend against the second-placed Corio Bay. It they win, their slim finals chances stay alive, ahead of winnable clashes against Whittlesea and Eltham in the final round.
Whittlesea Pacers
Ladder position: 8th
Games left: Eltham, Hume City
The Pacers remain in the finals race after splitting their weekend matches. They struggled against the Bulleen Boomers on Saturday night and were outscored in every quarter, losing 98-68. Their second game of more importance was against the sixth-placed McKinnon. If the Pacers had lost the game, the season would have been over. In the end, it was the first half that made the difference, and they outscored McKinnon by 15 points, with the final result 99-83. Chris Knight top scored with 25 points. The win leaves the Pacers in seventh place, only a game behind McKinnon. Going into the last two rounds the Pacers have winnable games against Eltham and Broncos, but have played one extra game than the other teams fighting for sixth spot.
State championship women
Hume City Broncos
Ladder position: 2nd
Games left: Ringwood, McKinnon
Last year’s premiers are in for a hard task if they want a top-two finish, taking on the top and third-placed sides in the final two rounds. The Broncos entered the weekend third behind Ringwood and McKinnon, which faced each other. Ringwood got the points, meaning the Broncos only had to win the match against the bottom-placed Melbourne Tigers to move to second on the ladder. They won 82-52. Colleen Planeta top scored with 29 points, while the Broncos were able to share around court time. Going into the final round, the Broncos are assured of a finals berth, whether they finish second or third is the question. This week they face Ringwood who has lost only one match for the season, which happens to be against the Broncos, but it could be the clash with McKinnon in the final round that will decide which team finishes second and third.
Division 1 men
Craigieburn
Ladder position: 14th
Games left: Warrandyte Venom, Mildura Heat
It’s all about pride for the Eagles in the last two weeks. After a season from hell with only one win for the year, the Eagles are looking to finish the season on a high note. Their best chance for a second win is against the second team at the bottom, Warrandyte Venom, this week.
Division 1 women
Craigieburn Eagles
Ladder position: 5th
Games left: Camberwell Dragons
It could be a nervous wait for the Eagles in the last round, as a bye means they have to sit and watch results and hope things fall their way. The Eagles did all the right things against Mildura Heat on Saturday, keeping the finals race alive. The fourth-placed Heat entered the game knowing a win would make it hard for teams outside the top four, including Broncos, to play finals. The Eagles, travelling to Mildura, though kept their finals hopes alive with an 80-73 win. It was the third quarter which was the difference between the two teams with the Eagles shooting 20-10. The win, the Eagles’ fourth in five matches, means they sit equal on wins with the third-placed Werribee Devils and the Heat. The problem for the Eagles is the number of games remaining for each side. The Eagles have one match left against Camberwell Dragons which they must win, while the Devils and sixth-placed Whittlesea Pacers have three games left and the Heat has two games remaining.
Whittlesea Pacers
Ladder position: 6th
Games left: Keilor Thunder, Geelong Supercats, Sunbury Jets
The equation is simple for the Pacers: they need to win their remaining three games ifor making the finals. If the Werribee Devils, Mildura Heat or Craigieburn win any of their remaining matches, nothing but three from three will be good enough. The Pacers kept their finals hopes alive by defeating the third-placed Devils on Saturday, 87-56. The Pacers outscored the Devils in every quarter and managed to keep them to a measly six points in the second quarter. Darcy Saunders top scored with 18 points. This weekend the Pacers take on Keilor Thunder, who sits below them on the ladder. It is the final round which will be the big test for the Pacers, who play top side Geelong Supercats before the final match of the season against the bottom-placed Sunbury Jets.
