Battered Owls chasing revenge against Tigers

Barking Owls captain Justin Benson believes his banged-up side are capable of ending their horror run against Tigers in grand finals when the two teams meet in this season’s Albany Basketball Association men’s A-grade decider tomorrow night.

Riddled by injury and unavailability through the second half of the season and playing with the bare five in their second semifinal victory over Tigers last week, Benson has declared his side are raring to go as they attempt to end the string of defeats at the hands of their grand final nemesis.

Tigers won four consecutive premierships in the men’s A-grade competition from 2009-10 through to 2012-13.

They defeated Owls in all four of those grand finals.

Owls ended their premiership drought with victories over Stirling Rangers (2013-14) and Wolves (2014-15) before going down to the Raiders under-18 development squad last season.

Owls will regain young forward Joel Bellinger-Brown for the decider while Benson is confident Hamish McMorran will play some role despite a serious ankle injury but Tristan Mackenzie (broken hand) has been ruled out.

“Generally for us, every year after country champs we struggle,” Benson said.

“With Joel going away to Perth, it has made it difficult but he’ll be back. Hamish is obviously hurt but I think he will come up.

“We will have six bodies out there.”

Benson said the Owls were eager to inflict a first grand final defeat on Tigers, something they had not done despite being in the past seven title deciders.

“They have had the wood on us,” he said.

“I wouldn’t call it a rivalry if you haven’t beaten them.

“We owe them one, I think.

“We are banged-up but it’s one game that requires 45 minutes of playing hard basketball.”

Tigers coach Ben Polette said his side were wary of the wounded Owls, having lost to them by six points in the second semifinal when McMorran did little but stand in the offensive half.

“I don’t think anyone really expected us to be there,” Polette said.

“They are obviously undermanned but we played pretty flat against them last week.

“We’ll probably allow ourselves to foul Gus a bit but it should be another great grand final.”

Tigers beat Owls by a point in their first encounter this season before Owls won in round 10 by 26 points.

Forward Corey Hitchcock will be missing from the Tigers’ winning preliminary final side because of football commitments.

Grand Final History

2012-13 — Tigers 33 def Barking Owls 19

2011-12 — Tigers 38 def Barking Owls 34

2010-11 — Tigers 49 def Barking Owls 29

2009-10 — Tigers 37 def Barking Owls 35