BSBL 2023: Brave fightback from Tornadoes Black falls agonisingly short against Bulls Maroon

Less than five minutes into the Bunbury Senior Basketball League men’s grand final last Friday night in Bunbury, Tornadoes Black had fallen into a 17-3 hole against Bulls Maroon. Despite this, Tornadoes Black coach Shane Goff did not panic. Turning on the style from beyond the arc, a high-octane brand of ball from Carl Catalano’s men — including a quarter time buzzer beater from downtown — ensured Maroon took a 35-11 quarter time advantage into the second term. Again, tellingly, Goff did not panic, nor did he berate his players regarding the situation they found themselves in. Instead, he encouraged his players to chip away at the deficit, by playing smart and executing managable offensive looks. What transpired over the remaining three quarters was an absorbing tale of resilience, desire and the old adage of never taking a lead for granted. Bulls Maroon, propped up by their sensational start, won the grand final 80-77, however the real winner was South West community basketball, given the quality standard of play. During the middle stages of the game, an element of lairising crept into some of Maroon’s offensive possessions. Instead of cashing in on conservative inside shooting plays, low-percentage outside looks and failed alley-oop attempts became the norm. Tornadoes Black made their move in the third quarter, outscoring Maroon 25-15. Aside from Xavier Cotton being able to knock down a series of clutch shots, Kent Placente stamped himself in the game, much to the delight of several in the packed South West Sports Centre. Bulls Maroon officials and players briefly had their hearts skip a beat late in the third term, when Travis Durnin hit the floor following a minor collision. After momentarily clutching his collarbone/shoulder region, Durnin walked off to the bench but returned following a brief rest. Goff’s side pulled to within one point with two minutes and change left in the ball game, however this would be as close as they would get, as superior clock management from Maroon in the dying seconds was enough to secure a satisfying BSBL men’s title. Result Bulls Maroon 80 (Rivar Evans 25 points, Travis Durnin 16) d Tornadoes Black 77 (Xavier Cotton 22, Kent Placente 12). Grand final MVP — Rivar Evans (Bulls Maroon).