Sharks shock defeats in Semi-Finals
The Sutherland Shire Sharks under 13s and 16s both suffered shock defeats in the preliminary semi-finals at NSW Soccer Headquarters at Valentine Park last Saturday.
As the Under 13s ran second after the home and away rounds, their defeat by third placed Marconi Stallions was a setback in their quest for the title but they were not eliminated from the play-offs.
The other Sharks team in the semi-finals, the 16s, was not so fortunate as their 2 nil loss to fifth placed Manly United FC sees the Sharks (4th) eliminated from the competition.
Heathcote’s Skuse leads Razorbacks to victory
Up and coming wheelchair basketball star, Darren Skuse from Heathcote, has led the West Sydney Razorbacks to another huge victory, in round eight of the National Wheelchair Basketball League (NWBL) competition.
Skuse scored 34 points and grabbed 17 boards in his team's runaway 97-49 victory over the Brisbane Spinning Bullets, on Sunday afternoon at the Bankstown Basketball Stadium. He had enjoyed a moderately successful debut year with the Razorbacks in 2006 but has blossomed into a more rounded player in 2007, after spending the Australian off-season training at the University of Illinois in the USA.
PHOTO: Darren Skuse has been a powerhouse for the Razorbacks this season (www.photoexcellence.com.au)
Skuse has stunned fans of the NWBL this season with his increased effectiveness on court, grabbing a season-high 30 boards in a recent game and currently holding down the very impressive averages of 22 points and 16 boards per game for the season.
The Razorbacks host the "Highlube" Wollongong Roller Hawks at the Bankstown Basketball Stadium this Saturday night in the final round of the regular season, in a game which will be the undisputed "Game of the Round".
The Roller Hawks took advantage of a depleted Razorbacks line-up to grab a 96-58 win in the first meeting between the two teams this season and the Razorbacks would need to win by more than 38 points to overtake the Roller Hawks for second spot on the competition ladder.
Razorbacks assistant coach Rob Megarrity is realistic enough to know that scenario is unlikely but indicated it will be "game on" this Saturday night, with both teams eager to gain a psychological advantage on the eve of the playoffs.
West Sydney Razorbacks 97 (D Skuse 34 points, 17 boards; Troy Sachs 25 points, 17 boards; Nick Taylor 12 points, 5 assists) defeated Brisbane Spinning Bullets 49 (Adrian King 16 points; Adam Bates 8 points, 8 boards; Jace Clare 8 points)
Saturday 1st Sept @ 7pm - West Sydney Razorbacks versus "Highlube" Wollongong Roller Hawks - Bankstown Basketball Stadium, Third Avenue Condell Park.
Sutherland Shire Netball Players in Australian Team
The following Sutherland players were selected in the Australian Under 16 schoolgirls merit team. In the team is Alix Kennedy while Anita Blanco has been selected as a reserve. Sportslive congratulates both girls.
For more information on Sutherland netball go to www.ssna.asn.au
Sharks miss out in Australian Basketball Finals
The Australian Basketball Association Semi-Finals and Finals involving the best teams from around Australia were played last weekend. The Waratah Australian Basketball League was represented by Sutherland Shire Sharks who were eliminated in the semi-final stage. Reports of the semis and grand final follow:
Semi-Final: Rangers Too Strong for Sharks. The Dandenong Rangers defeated the Sutherland Sharks 99-84 in the first Men’s semi-final of the 2007 ‘Champion’ Australian Basketball Association (ABA) National finals held at the Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre last weekend.
The Sharks (Waratah) stayed with Dandenong (Big V) for the majority of the first three quarters of the game but the inside dominance of the Rangers in the final term eased them to a 15-point win and a berth in the grand final.
Rangers' forward Vince Inglima netted a massive 35 points including 6-of-9 three pointers while 200cm centre Ash Cannan and guard Adrian Campbell tallied 14 points and 13 rebounds and 14 points respectively.
For the Sharks, forward Blake Henricks scored 25 points and Sydney Kings guard BJ Carter contributed 20 points.
Semi-Final: Marlins Crush Geelong. The Cairns Marlins thrashed the Geelong Supercats 123-91 in their semi-final at the Melbourne Sports and Aquatic centre (MSAC).
The Marlins’ 32-point win set up a Grand Final clash against the Dandenong Rangers after their defeat of the Sharks.
Grand Final: Cairns Marlins Win ABA National Men’s Title. The Cairns Marlins are the best male basketball club in Australia after defeating the Dandenong Rangers 110-98 in the Grand Final at the Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre last Sunday.
Nothing could split the sides in the first half but the Rangers, who finished runner-up last year, could not contain the offensive strength of the Marlins, who had five players score 16 points or more.
Cairns Taipan National Basketball League (NBL) stars Aaron Grabau and Gary Boodnikoff netted 24 points and 23 points respectively to lead the Marlins with Grabau going on to be named Grand Final MVP.
Australia Post Boomers squad member Nathan Jawai tallied a powerful 21-point, 13 rebound double-double in support, including a number of massive dunks and proved the difference in the decisive third quarter. For the Rangers Ash Cannan tallied a 20-point, 11 rebound double-double to lead Dandenong with Brent Hobba and Vince Inglima contributing 20 points and 18 points respectively.
Both teams illustrated why they were the remaining two teams left in the 2007 competition in a fast paced, high scoring opening term, which the Rangers won 37-36 to lead at quarter time.
The second term, much like the first, went basket for basket with defence taking a second seed to attack and with one three seconds remaining in the half Grabau nailed a 3-point basket from half way to give the Marlins a 66-65 halftime lead. Grabau had netted 18 by halftime for Cairns while Cannan, Inglima and Hobba all had 12 or more points each to their names for Dandenong.
The scoreline line stayed tight for the first half of the third quarter before the injection of Jawai, who wowed the crowd with his superior inside strength and bone rattling dunks pushed Cairns out to a 81-72 lead with three minutes remaining before eventually leading 92-81 at three quarter time.
Unfortunately for Dandenong, stars Hobba and Inglima were inhibited by foul trouble, both tallying 4 fouls each by the opening minutes of the final term. Despite the gallant efforts of Hobba, Inglima and Cannan, it was Jawai’s sheer strength and constant ball he received from the Marlins’ guards that saw Cairns move out to an 11-point lead with five minutes remaining before eventually claiming the 2007 ABA National Men’s title 110-98. More Stories?
For more local sports stories click on Sutherland on www.sportslive.com.au
If you want publicity for your sport please contact the SportsLive Modertor at YourOnlineCommunity office on 4254 0200 or to contact via email Click here-> | 
