Ellas Titans, Tracy Village and Razzle to clash in Darwin Basketball league grand finals
Ellas Titans’ men and women are targeting back-to-back titles, but underdogs Razzle and a resurgent Tracy Village have their shot to spoil the party. Here’s what you need to know for the Darwin Basketball grand finals.
The Ellas Titans men and women are targeting back-to-back titles, but underdogs Razzle and a resurgent Tracy Village have their shot to spoil the party in the Darwin Basketball grand final.
In the final matches played under the Darwin Basketball Association banner the top sides of the season will meet on Friday night for their shot at the championship rings.
Women’s reigning champions Ellas take on Tracy Village in the 6pm match while their men’s counterparts will be challenged by Razzle Storm in the men’s grand final from 8pm.
Ellas have won the past two women’s championships and are on track for a third, but the Jets who historically have ruled this competition won’t let them have it all their way.
Abbey-Lee Wood has starred again for the Titans with 272 points to her name from across the season, including 47 three pointers.
She’s someone the likes of 15-year-old Madeline Kennedy, playing her second grand final for the team, will look to as the side chases three in a row.
Kennedy is one of five Titans with more than 100 points this season also including Zoe Campbell, who has 229 points.
“It’s been a really good season, our team has come together really well, we’ve gelled and it’s just been fun for us,” she said.
“Jets are a strong team with good players and are really competitive, we know they will make it a good game.
“But we’re a good team too, we’re strong and competitive and we’ll come out hard against them, we’ve had some new players come in this year that have really made a good fit for the team.”
The Tracy Village women’s dynasty is well-known but since their 2022-23 triumph they’ve missed out on two consecutive grand finals, a rarity for this team.
But a rejuvenation of sorts including the return of two-time WNBL champion Abby Cubillo, who top scored with 18 points in the prelim final against Uni Rebels, has returned the club to the big one.
Former Darwin Saltie Tyla Cubillo, who has scored 203 points this season, and Tikesa Docherty-Cole are other long time Jets who will have an impact on this one.
“We’ve had a really good season, a lot of ins and outs but now we have a solid team and we’re ready for the final,” Tyla Cubillo said.
“It’s great to be back at this stage, it was devastating for us in those years we weren’t in the big dance so we’re happy and ready to take it on now we’re back.
“Teamwork is our main attribute, we work really well because we all know each other on and off the court which has really helped us this season.
“With Abby back it’s been great to have her leadership in the team as well as that next level experience that she brings.”
Meanwhile, the Ellas’ success has been shared by the men, who won last year’s championship and beat minor premiers Ansett in what was the big test to get quick entrance to the grand final.
Now they too have the chance to go for a second title in as many years against a Razzle side that has the potential to surprise.
Kobe Powell is the man to look out for with 537 points to his name while Deba George is another known commodity who with 377 points has the most three pointers with 67.
But they won’t be the only two pulling their weight with the engine room of bigs Ellas has sure to have an impact in the big one.
That includes Nate Jawai who has become a mainstay of the Titans since coming to Darwin while Mark Burkholder scored 20 against Ansett.
“We started off a little slow, but picked up as the season went on and we found ourselves at full strength ahead of finals time when we needed to be,” George said.
“We locked in as a team and when we’re out there we play as a team and for each other, for us our success came down to our communication which was all over the place early in the season.
“We know if we come out and play good, strong defence for 40 minutes we’re in a good spot and our offence comes from there.
“Razzle are a good, young team and we can’t take them lightly, in basketball there’s always going to be runs where they’ll get going but as long as we stick to our structure we will be fine.”
Razzle know they have a task ahead of them playing in their first grand final in six years, and much has changed about the squad in the interim.
There’s plenty of young talent in the squad that hasn’t experienced a DBA grand final but have proven themselves this year including Brian Ramsamy and Bryce Sloan.
Kayden Malseed and Thomas Malseed are others who have consistently impressed while Fabian Johnson downed 24 points in the shock defeat of Ansett.
One big defeat down now the side knows they just need to get up one more time to give themselves a chance at the win.
“It’s pretty surreal, we’ve battled hard the whole year to be here and finishing third we came into this finals series as real underdogs,” Thomas Malseed said.
“We’ve worked hard and it’s exciting to be in the grand final, it’s been six years for us as a club and from a culture and a mindset space we’re all in a good place.
“We didn’t beat Ansett all year and they ran over the top of us beating us by a fair margin but to beat them when we did shows what we’re capable of when we work together.
“This will be a tough game, we’ve been back and forth with Ellas all year and it’s just one of those games that will come right to the and whoever plays best will get it done.”
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Originally published as Ellas Titans, Tracy Village and Razzle to clash in Darwin Basketball league grand finals
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