Surfcoast Chargers premier men's team to play Mildura Heat in a final
The Surfcoast Chargers men’s team has gone from rock bottom to the top three in just two years. Find out whose behind their rapid rise.
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Top level basketball across the Bellarine and Surf Coast continues to go from strength to strength with three local Big V teams set for finals action, starting Saturday night.
In division two men, the Surfcoast Chargers will take on Mildura on the road on Saturday at the Hothouse after finishing third on the table following an 11-7 season.
However, the ledger is split 1-1 during the home and away season with the northern Victorians.
Surfcoast edged out Mildura by 12 points in late April with US import Dexter Graham starring with 33 points and five assists while Conrad Cooper pulled down 17 boards.
The Heat got revenge in June to win by just seven; a 4-15 final quarter costing the home team as Graham battled a thumb injury sustained early in the game.
Senior coach David Scott told this masthead it would be a tough road trip with close to a full strength squad available, albeit with a few niggles.
“Mildura is always tough and playing them at home is tough,” Scott said.
“The health of the side is fine, we’ll go in with a few minor issues but no more than probably taking the toll from the season.
“Most teams will be in that scenario anyway with a few niggles, but we’re not going to be blaming injury for anything.
“We’ll go in quite healthy, but it will be tough.”
Graham has averaged 22 points a game in 2024, placing himself amongst the league’s most deadly offensive players, while he and evergreen Geelong basketball veteran Jason Reardon are averaging five assists a game — two and three in the league.
Reardon and Cooper are also in the league’s top 10 for rebounds this year.
“The guys have shared the ball a lot,” Scott said.
“(Graham has been) strong across all categories. Two key players for the team. But there’s been absences during the season, so we work on the ‘next man up’ mentality.”
Scott said securing a double chance was a “great progression for us” after finishing on the bottom in 2022 and marginally missing the post-season last year.
Scott was hopeful the Chargers would retain Graham’s services – who has spoken publicly about finding his niche at the club after unhappy experiences at other outfits – but could be poached by a team in a higher division.
“We’re also striving to try and jump a division, depending on how we finish the campaign this year as well,” he said.
“Then we’d be every reason to believe that he would stay.”
Meanwhile, Surfcoast’s premier women’s team finished on top of division two and is heading for the finals after a 10-9 season, enjoying a bye this weekend to rest some weary bodies.
From an individual perspective, Cortney Hollowood is second in the league for average points (22) and assists (4.5) while Candice Rogers is third for boards (13).
Then there’s Bellarine’s women who have handled promotion to the championship with aplomb, and face third placed Bulleen on Saturday night.
Import Bridgette Rettstatt has made a big splash this year for the Storm, and is second in the competition for average boards (12).
Bellarine is second on the ladder after a 17-4 season, with senior coach Tim Sanderson named mentor for the month of July.
Despite a mid-table season from the eighth-placed men, US import Kavione “KG” Green picked up back-to-back player of the month awards in July.
Green broke his previous best of 31 rebounds – plus a record 22 defensive boards – against Western Port last month.
He is averaging 23 points (sixth in the comp) and 12.3 rebounds (first) to become one of the championship’s most damaging players.
Originally published as Surfcoast Chargers premier men's team to play Mildura Heat in a final
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