Port Dolphins bow out in semis for third season in a row

IT was a case of what could have been for the Port Dolphins as they were bundled out of the State League Basketball Semi-Finals for the third successive year.

The second-placed Men’s side faced Moss Vale Magic on Saturday, 23 August on the Central Coast.

The results were split between the two sides during the regular season, with Port winning away from home by four points but losing to the Magic by two in the return match at the Port Macquarie Sports Stadium.

In last Saturday night’s qualifier the Dolphins led by three at Quarter Time before the margin was reduced to one by half-time.

The Magic then turned it on during the second half, making the most of their scoring opportunities to gain a seven-point lead at the end of the third period before finally running away with a 19 point victory 82-63.

Top scorers for Port were Sean McCurdy (22) and Caleb Prior (nine).

The following day Moss Vale won the title after disposing of Tamworth by the exact same scoreline in the decider.

In the Women’s Division Semi Final there was a similar story for the Port Dolphins who trailed Central Coast Waves by two points at the first break, but then led by two at both half time and three quarter time.

It was in the final ten minutes that the Waves turned up the intensity, outscoring Port 16 points to four to win 68-58 and progress in the competition.

Callie Gillard was impressive picking up 16 points for the match, closely followed by Ruby Erin with 14 and Tiffany Reynolds with 11.

In the Final, Queanbeyan defeated Central Coast by five points.

On a brighter note, Reynolds and Erin were named in the All-Star 5, which was chosen from all the players competing in the Women’s Division.

While teenager Lucas Scott, who made several appearances in the Dolphin’s Men’s Team, was announced as the Rookie of the Year in the Youth Division where he scored 482 points at an average of 25 points per game.

By Nik LIPOVAC