By Tara Murray
Craigieburn Eagles have overcome a slow start to run away with a comfortable elimination final win against Wallan Panthers in Big V men’s division 2.
The Panthers came out firing and quickly found themselves leading by 11 points at the first break.
The Eagles slowly worked into the game and by half-time the margin was down to three points.
The second half was all the Eagles as they cruised to an easy 87-58 win.
Eagles coach Simon Wilson said it was about adjusting to the tempo of the Panthers early on.
“Wallan came out ready to play,” he said.
“They have some great players and we had to bring our best defence.
“We just had to adjust and match the intensity. Defensively we adjusted well. “
Wilson said that while the whole team stepped up in defence, it was two of the younger players – Jackson Wynne and Abraham Solano – who impressed him most.
“It was the plan to use their foot speed and length,” he said.
“Abe and Jackson were huge defensively and they came in and had an impact on the side.
“Throughout the whole year, any time we’ve brought up youth league players they’ve been ready.
“The youth league coach [Tom Carroll] has done a good job had them ready for this level.”
Import Damon Smith top scored with 24 points while three other players made double figures.
Wynne came off the bench and scored 16 points.
Wilson said it was good that different players were standing up.
“It’s always been the way that we’ve had an unselfish nature and you never know who will be the second, third or fourth scorer,” he said.
“We try and make the right play, not the play for a particular person.”
Craigieburn Eagles will face Southern Peninsula in a best-of-three semi-final series, with the winner through to the grand final series.
Game one will be at Craigieburn this weekend.
“Southern Pen are the top seed and we will be up against,” Wilson said.
“Hopefully, the boys step up.”
