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Historic night for Little Apples

Zoe Askew

THE distinguishable screeching of rubber sole shoes on wooden floorboards echoed inside the four walls of Gippsland Regional Sports Complex on Wednesday night, as Little Apples Basketball League’s top teams met on centre court for the Season 7 Grand Final. Finishing Season 7 in top position, losing just one game, Avon Timber entered the Grand Final favourites. Their opponents, Sale Greyhound Club, entered with everything to prove. After a nail-biting, hair-pulling, gasp-inducing match, Sale Greyhound Club proved victorious in one of the best Grand Finals in Little Apples Basketball League’s short history - fitting as the game marked the end of the Little Apples Basketball League. Living up to expectations, Avon Timber started like a bull out of the gate, with big man Mitch Leeds pulling down every rebound on offer, quickly finding the ring or passing off to someone who could. There were no answers from the underdogs; Sale Greyhounds couldn’t buy a bucket, and by half-time, Avon led by 20 points, 25 to 5. Returning for quarter three, an opportunity for Sale Greyhounds to get back into the game arose; Leeds was on the bench. The underdogs well and truly capitalised on the opportunity, with swift play from Glen Gocotano and Dylan O’Shanassy quickly closing Avon’s lead to 15 points. Quarter number four, the last dash, the final battle; started with a bang. Like dogs pursuing a mechanical rabbit around an enclosed track, Sale Greyhounds were hot off the mark, leaving Avon Timber dazed after a shooting spree saw the underdogs close the margin to six points in the opening minutes. Did it just get hot in here? Teams turned up the heat, and team captains Ross Bennell (Sale Greyhounds), and Andrew Quirk (Avon Timber), collected tech fouls as tempers flared. After nine attempts, Sale Greyhounds Riley Cottrell finally drained a 3-pointer, closing the margin, the lead now within two points. With a 3-pointer from Gocotano, Sale Greyhounds were in the lead for the first time, leading Avon by one with just minutes remaining. Spectators roared, cheers reverberating against

Jherson Rullen from team Turnbull Toyota was crowned winner of the ‘Randy Sanchez Sauce Co. three-point comp’.

Photos: Zoe Askew

the GRSC glass windows, echoing briefly before disappearing into the next wave of deafening roars. Heads followed play, left to right, back and forth, back and forth. Spectators took to their feet; others found their nails between their teeth. A late foul to Avon Timber awarded Brad Trease two free throws; virtually no time remaining, two chances to win the game. Breaker shoots; he misses. On and off the court, tension brewed like molten rock inside a ready-to-erupt volcano. Breaker shoots; he misses. That’s the game. Sale Greyhounds bewildered opponents and spectators alike, claiming the premiership title, an extra memorable win for captain Ross Bennell, being one of the league founders. It was the winning team’s Dylan O’Shanassy who was named Grand Final MVP, collecting a total of 12 votes. Quirk and Leeds followed with seven and five votes. Jherson Rullen from team Turnbull Toyota was crowned winner of the ‘Randy Sanchez Sauce Co. three-point comp’, sinking eight out of 15 shots. Reflecting on its history, Little Apples Basketball League founder Cameron Churchill says the seventh and final season had been his favourite. “There was no clear favourite for the flag, a battle to make finals, and I nearly hit a three,” Churchill said. “It was the most competitive season we have had, there are a good nine to 10 blokes in contention for the MVP award, and my favourite player, Hayden John, showed the league he is the boss!” While Little Apples Basketball League has come to an end, Churchill and Bennell are not yet done with basketball, amalgamating their league with the Sale Amateur Basketball Association in the coming year. “The best part of the Little Apples has been playing competitive games of basketball, amongst a wide range of blokes, and the friendships and bonds it has created between people who would have never met before,” Churchill said. “What I take away most from Little Apples Basketball is how positive team sport can play in the battle against mental health in men. The social interaction it creates and the way the league was structured to include people from all walks of life has been so great to see.”

Mitch Leeds moves the ball down court.

Andew Quirk in action for Avon Timber in the Little Appels Basketball League Grand Final.

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Netball participation is on the rise

Community netball numbers are strong, according to new data. Pictured is Sale City’s Indigo Waugh during the most recent North Gippsland Football-Netball League season.

Photo: Zoe Askew

COMMUNITY netball is thriving, with participation levels exceeding pre-pandemic levels, according to AusPlay data. Recent data released by the Australian Sports Commission collected between July 2021 and June 2022 reveals 964,100 people are playing netball. The figure is an increase from the past two-yearly data collection points, when Australian sport and participation was significantly affected by the global coronavirus pandemic. The data collected in FY19-20 and FY20-21 shows 934,900 and 875,400 people playing netball respectively. Internal registration data from Netball Australia shows a nine per cent increase in registrations for junior and senior competitions in 2022 compared to 2019. It marks the highest registration data reported by Netball Australia since AusPlay records began in 2015. The latest participation figures show the strength and passion of the grassroots and community netball network. AusPlay data also reveals netball has kept its

place as the most popular team sport for women and girls, with a total of 838,478 women and girls participating, 397,385 more participants than the next sport. Netball ranks fourth overall for team sports. Netball Australia chief executive, Kelly Ryan, said netball was defying participation trends. “These numbers are a credit to our member organisations, netball clubs, associations and volunteers,” Ryan said. “Netball has long been known for its far reaching and passionate grassroots community, that is the heartbeat of our great game. “Despite increasing economic considerations, the legacy of the COVID-19 pandemic and other headwinds, these recent results show that netball continues to be one of Australia’s most loved sports. “This year was history making for netball in Australia, when the Australian Men’s Team played against New Zealand and England for the first time. Seeing men play on the international stage will no doubt have a positive impact on men and boys’ participation moving forward.” PROUDLY BROUGHT TO YOU BY THESE PARTICIPATI G NG LOCAL L BUSINESSES Solutions

Sudoku No. 0137 Crossword No. 8513

A D E C A M P O A I D L E D P R A G E D H L E G A L I S E I B E G U N R E S P E C T A R I D S T A T E U S E V E R I N T E R I E E L F I N R U C A N E S E D I T S P L O S E R E P E E R E G U L A R C A S E S E E D U C A T E D M E G R E T S D E F E R L M E L E V E N D

Target Time No. 0137

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