The Surfcoast Chargers beat Mildura Heat by eight points to qualify for the Big V division two grand final
The Surfcoast Chargers have qualified for their maiden Big V grand final after a tough road trip. Find out how they did it.
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The Surfcoast Chargers are into a Big V division two grand final after resisting a late Mildura Heat surge on the road in a thrilling do-or-die encounter on Saturday night.
Atoning for a week one, eight-poinss loss to the Heat at the same location a fortnight prior, the Chargers flipped the script in a 82-74 victory and have spectacularly gone from dead last in 2022 to a decider against Craigieburn this weekend.
The Heat, who went into the game without key rebounder Tyjhai Byers, trailed by seven points at the final charge at the Hothouse.
They snatched a two-point lead with four minutes to play before the visitors steadied through a Jason Reardon three pointer and Dexter Graham’s two-from-two at the charity stripe.
The home team would later draw within four points with 87 seconds to play when Tarryn Shaddock made a layup.
However, Tyler Errard would drain a clutch three-ball to answer the charge.
The Chargers got the edge in boards +4 in Byers’ absence, who was suspended for five weeks for striking last weekend.
For the visitors, Dexter Graham was again dominant with 20 points and seven assists while Errard top scored with 23 and six assists.
The Chargers have the wood on minor premiers Craigieburn, beating them by eight points back in May.
Coach David Scott said the win was a testament to his squad’s resilience and hard work, following a three-year “journey of growth”.
“This win reflects the dedication and grit of every player on the team and those gone beforehand,” Scott said.
“We’re not satisfied yet, our eyes are firmly set on the grand final.
“Our team defence was relentless and every player showed immense toughness in the face of adversity over the long road trip to Mildura.
“We knew Mildura Heat would be a tough encounter. Our team dug deep, pushing through every challenge, including a trip to the hospital for a nasty cut.
“Thankfully, we expect everyone to be ready for the grand final.
“Our goal is clear: to bring home the championship for the Surf Coast community.”
Meanwhile, the lady Chargers went down by nine points to Melbourne University at Wurdi Baierr Stadium in a preliminary final earlier in the night.
Captain Cortney Hollood again led the scoring for Surfcoast with 14 points plus nine rebounds while Jess Scannell pulled down nine boards to go with her 11 points.
A 22-16 third quarter gave Uni some breathing space at the final break and they kept Surfcoast at arm’s length for the remainder of the game.
In women’s championshp, Bellarine Storm has booked a place in the preliminary final against Wyndham next weekend after comfortably beating Pakenham 28 points.
New recruits Bridgette Rettstatt and Courtney Strait both produced 22-point games and all of its starting five put up double digit games.
Rettstatt and Strait colleted 30 rebounds between them with the former having 20 of that tally.
EARLIER
Surfcoast Chargers men’s team’s hopes of qualifying for a Big V division two grand final have been significantly bolstered after a rival player was suspended for five weeks for striking.
The Chargers play the Mildura Heat at the Hothouse on Saturday night to claim a berth in the decider against Craigieburn.
However, the Heat’s US import Tyjhai Byers, who scored 10 points against the Chargers in week one of the finals at the Hothouse, accepted a five-game suspension for striking during last Saturday’s final against the Craigieburn Eagles.
The six foot 11 centre Byers has averaged just under 10 points a game in 2024, but is in the league’s top five for boards, averaging 11 a game.
He collected 26 rebounds in a game against Mornington in July.
EARLIER
It will be a Super Saturday of local basketball with three of the region’s four top level teams needing to win to keep their Big V premiership hopes intact.
The Surfcoast Chargers men’s and women’s teams, and Bellarine Storm’s championship women, face win-or-bust matches from 5pm on Saturday.
After being beaten in week one by Wallan, the Chargers’ division two women will face Melbourne University on its home court for a grand final berth.
Surfcoast had led by four points at the final break last Saturday, before the home team broke away in the final term, scoring 25-14, to win 73-66.
“With a minute 14 (seconds) on the clock, it was 64-all,” team veteran Jess Scannell said.
“We started fouling to send them to the line, that was more strategy at the end.
“It’s one of those things, you either try and scrape the win or you lose by more than what you should have.”
Scannell, who is chasing her first premiership since a title with the Geelong Supercats back in 2014, said it had been a topsy turvy season so far with illness to star Cortney Hollowood and an ankle injury which robbed Scannell herself of over a month.
“It’s been a bit of an up and down season to be honest but we feel we’ve come together at the right (time),” Scannell said.
The 33-year-old, ranked 13th in the league for average points (14.3) and nearly nine boards a game and three assists, said the team had done well to bounce back from a semi-final loss to eventual champions Gippsland United last year.
Despite her side’s three losses to Wallan, Scannell felt the opportunity remained to pinch a title.
“To be honest it’s anyone’s game at this point,” she said.
“We’re quietly confident ... we played (Melbourne University) a few weeks ago and we came out seven points out on top, we’re pretty aware were going to have to be on our A game.”
Despite the loss, Hollowood produced another strong performance with 20 points while Candice Rogers banked an incredible 20 boards.
Hollowood is in the division’s top three for average points and assists.
“She’s the best player in the league,” Scannell said.
The ledger is squared at one apiece with Uni, who finished the home and away season in third on the ladder.
Meanwhile, at the opposite end of the state, the Surfcoast’s men will travel to Mildura for the second time in three weeks against the Heat for a grand final berth.
The Chargers were beaten by Mildura by 12 points on August 3 in week one of the finals.
Like the Surfcoast women, the visitors were outgunned 32-20 in the final term to go down, 92-80.
However, the Chargers returned to form last weekend with Dexter Graham piling on 15 points in the final term, eventually beating Southern Peninsula 104-90.
In women’s championship, Bellarine Storm face Pakenham after losing to Bulleen in week one.
The Storm has comfortably beaten Pakenham twice this year, including by 25 points last month.
Local fans can watch Bellarine’s Youth League Women grand final on several TV screens after the game.
Originally published as The Surfcoast Chargers beat Mildura Heat by eight points to qualify for the Big V division two grand final
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