Raiders win first A-grade premiership

Raiders under-18 development squad created history on Friday night by winning their maiden Albany Basketball Association men’s A-grade premiership, with a comprehensive 17-point triumph over Barking Owls.

Playing in their first-ever grand final against a team chasing their third straight men’s A-grade title, Raiders were not overawed by the occasion as they extended a seven-point half-time advantage into an historic 41-24 result.

Talented point guard Matt Leary was named most valuable player in the grand final after again impressing for Raiders with 10 points and a number of assists while the influence of big man Hamish McMorran was also vital.

McMorran led his team with 13 points, six of which came in the all-important last half, but it was his rebounding and work to deny Owls easy drives to the basket that stood out.

The top-tier competition’s youngest team missed three consecutive three point attempts to start the match but star guard John Murray opened the scoring in the grand final with a successful fourth attempt and from that moment they went about opening up a handy lead.

McMorran and Leary joined Murray in helping Raiders shoot ahead 19-7, but Owls fought back late in the first 20 minutes with captain Justin Benson working overtime at both ends and a late triple from Carwin Garcia making it just seven points at the break.

Raiders did well to absorb the early attack from Owls in the second half and with 10 minutes to play, the young side led by 13 points.

Benson was single-handedly trying to haul his side back into the contest but when McMorran sprinted clear and produced a slam dunk that brought the crowd to life, the Raiders appeared home.

Benson added two free throws soon after only for Leary to drop the final nail in the Owls coffin as he drained his second long-range basket of the match.

Murray was at his dangerous best throughout and finished with 10 points while Corey Hitchcock dropped vital three-pointers in both halves.

Raiders sunk six of their 20 three-point attempts and shot at 50 percent from the free-throw line in their premiership win.

Coach Darren Berry praised his entire squad for their outstanding season and said they deserved this place in history.

“The most pleasing thing about tonight was we had good contributions from everyone,” he said.

“This program has been running for a while but from all accounts it’s starting to show its fruition.

“The overall development as a team has been great and the players put in that intensity and fought throughout.”

Berry said the defensive pressure from both sides led to the low-scoring affair but his side knocked down shots at crucial times.

Owls were led gallantly by Benson with a game-high 14 points but the dominant player of the competition lacked support; his side shooting at 11 percent from long range.

Owls’ free throw shooting at times kept them in the game, scoring 11 of 15 attempts from the line.

“They were just too fit for us,” Benson said.

“Their ball movement is very good and once they move it we can’t stay with them.

“Our game plan was to slow it right down because we knew we couldn’t run with them but full credit to them, they didn’t allow that to happen.”

Benson said the Raiders were such a well-balanced side and learnt to share the ball and grew as a team as they season went on.