Essington Cannons pull of an inspirational upset over Ansett, Raymond Jarrett proves a point

INSPIRED by star imports Raymond Jarrett and Elijah Barbour Essington shook off the underdogs tag to beat Ansett 108-103 in the Darwin Basketball knockout semi-final.

Raymond Jarrett starred for Essington in its elimination semi-final win over Ansett. Picture Glenn Campbell

INSPIRED by star imports Raymond Jarrett and Elijah Barbour, Essington shook off the underdogs tag to beat Ansett 108-103 in the Darwin Basketball knockout semi-final.

Having not beat any of their fellow finalists through the regular season the Cannons had a point to prove and prove it they did in matching Ansett’s intensity from the outset.

The depth of the Ansett squad is a tough ask for any side to get past with the likes of Freddy Webb (27 points) and Fred Williams (27 points) firing as normal.

But the Cannons imports were on their game with Raymond Jarrett (35 points) having a personal point to prove after not being picked in the league’s top 15 players while Elijah Barbour (42 points) piled on the score.

Three-pointers and slam dunks were exchanged with the score tied with as little as four minutes on the clock in the final quarter.

It was then that the Cannons started to pull away with Lachlan Shipway (14 points) applying plenty of defensive pressure to limit the Ansett offence in the dying minutes.

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“It’s good to get the win as everyone was counting us out because we haven’t beaten the top three teams,” Barbour told the NT News.

“We had our most focused practice of the year and then played how we had practised. In the lead up we said this has to be the best game of the year and that’s how we played.

“Usually when their pressure comes we fold but we did well with the ball today and getting past that pressure was all we needed to do.

“My team needed me to step up in the second half as I was a little rowdy in the first but RJ took me aside and told me to stay calm and play my game.”

Jarrett, who had a personal point to prove, was proud of the energy his squad brought to the encounter to finally get the win over one of the top three.

“We brought the energy and for me personally I had an extra statement to prove after not being named in the league top 15 in the DBA awards, so I had to prove them wrong,” Jarrett said.

“Elijah has really grown up and is really becoming a good young pro. He’s learning the game and is getting better every game and really came through for us out there.

“The first time we played them they beat us on the buzzer and since then we’ve had that in the back of our heads knowing we can play with them and we just had to execute.”

Ansett captain Matty Hunt (11 points) was gracious in defeat looking towards the upcoming season as the next target for his young squad.

“We’re disappointed. We felt we were the better team and as a result we’re just feeling a bit flat right now but full credit to them as they came out and did it on the night,” Hunt said.

“We’re obviously a pretty young side with a couple older veterans mixed in with our younger fellas and we’re only going to get better as long as the team sticks together.

“After the game I just said to the guys that they have to feel the hurt and loss in these games and use this as motivation to come back next year even better.”

Essington will now face the loser of the Eagles versus Tracy Village semi final on Friday night, with the winner of that clash going straight to the grand final.