Harper Sercombe
Hume City Broncos failed to jump the final hurdle of their Big V championship men’s campaign for 2023.
The Broncos took on McKinnon in the grand final on Saturday night and were unable to take home the win.
Nothing could split the sides for the first three quarters, with the biggest lead being just seven points. At three quarter time the game was tied at 66 a piece.
With two and half minutes of game time left the Broncos were down by just the four points and looked to be charging hard. However McKinnon was more than up for the challenge going on a 12-0 run, to win the game 90-74.
While the club is disappointed being runners-up, vice-president Glen Milner said he is proud of what the group has been able to accomplish.
“We thought we had a roster that could take us all the way,” he said.
“For a major part of the season and even in the latter part of the finals, we proved that we were capable of consistent form in the finals atmosphere.
“After beating Wyndham at Werribee we went in with a certain level of confidence, but unfortunately, it didn’t turn out that way.
Milner said it had been a cracker game for three and a bit quarters, but they lose their way a little bit in the end.
“But full credit to McKinnon they brought a lot of momentum coming into the game and in the end they just made plays and finished plays and we just couldn’t finish ours.
“We’re disappointed but we’re also very proud of the way the team came through and played consistently good basketball over the course of the season.
“We still celebrate the year that was but we will keep our eye on the price for next year.”
While Milner said the off season recruiting will be left to the coaching staff, he said the strength of their youth league side will hold the club in good stead. Their youth league team claimed the division 1 title.
“We’ve got a lot of up and comers in that group who will be seriously considered,” he said.
“It’s good to have competition for places.
“I think that in itself will breed that sense of hunger and that sense of urgency that we will need to carry through to next year.”
One of the Broncos’ youth league players already starting for their men’s side is young gun Corey Fides who had 11 points and rebounds on Saturday night.
“Corey has been a huge pickup for us,” Milner said. “He’s super talented, he’s a club man.
“He’s met the demands of both competitions, playing two games in the one night and dominating in both levels, so he’s been a tremendous pickup for us.
“We’re excited by what he’s contributed and what he can continue to contribute.”
This was the first time the Big V played one off grand final match and at a neutral venue. While the Broncos are not making excuses for Saturday night’s loss, Milner said a best of three series is potentially a fairer method going forward.
“It’s a fairer reflection of both teams abilities and performance levels,” he said.
“Having said that, don’t take that as being a whinge about it, at the end of the day, both teams have to play the game, both teams played at a neutral venue and the better team won on the night.”
