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Geraldton basketball finals preview: Top sides clash with all the chips on the table

Headshot of Fraser Williams
Fraser WilliamsGeraldton Guardian
Chapman Valley against Olympians in round two.
Camera IconChapman Valley against Olympians in round two. Credit: Fraser Williams/Geraldton Guardian

The finals have finally arrived after a long season in the Geraldton Amateur Basketball Association, with teams fighting to play another week.

The action began on Monday night with the do-or-die elimination final, with the loser being sent home and the winner extending their run.

In men’s division one, the battle between third and fourth saw Hawks take on the Pumas, with the sides having three matchups in the regular season and it was Hawks who got the better of their opposition with two wins to Pumas’ one.

In their most recent clash Hawks got a 100-87 win over Pumas, with both sides missing key players in that clash.

Pumas come in as the reigning champions, with the side taking the grand final win last season, and will look to repeat history.

The winner of Monday’s game will play the loser of the qualifying final which is between Chapman Valley and Olympians on Tuesday.

Valley have been the most dominant team all season, previously going undefeated until the very last round of the season when the Hawks proved they weren’t invincible.

Facing them is the Olympians, who have been a consistently strong team all season when they are at full strength, but the matchups between the sides have been heavily one sided.

In the three times the two sides faced off in the regular season, Chapman Valley won every exchange with an average margin of 29.

Olympians will need to be firing on all cylinders if they want to clutch a spot in the grand final, but either side will have a second chance at making the big dance.

The women’s division one deciders will also take place over Monday and Tuesday, as the elimination final saw Pumas face off against Trades.

Pumas previously had a tight hold on the top of the ladder, looking like the team to beat with a 6-1 record.

However a drop off in play and production saw the Pumas side end their season on a five game losing streak, falling from first to third.

As a result they had to play in the elimination final against a Trades team who have had up and down results, but got up over Pumas in their most recent clash.

The top two teams in Stateside and Olympians will play off for a spot in the grand final, with Stateside coming in as the champions from last year.

The Stateside team had a lacklustre start to their title defence this season, but finished strong, winning five straight to take the minor premiership.

They take on an Olympians side who earnt their spot in the qualifying final with a win over Pumas last week.

In the men’s division two finals, Pumas and Olympians clashed on Monday in the elimination final while Trades and Stateside face off on Tuesday in the qualifier.

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