Top four all but secure
BASKETBALL
BOTH the Country Basketball League Gippsland men’s and women’s top four spots appear secure ahead of this weekend’s final round of competition.
Moe, Traralgon, Western Port and Churchill are almost certain to progress to women’s semi-finals, barring Maffra thumping Warragul by an unspeakable margin to sneak in on differential.
The Meteors face a similar scenario in the men’s draw, requiring an immense victory over Western Port or a disastrous double header for Sale to leapfrog either into the four, with Warragul and Churchill safe.
The weekend’s penultimate round of women’s matches saw the Eagles upset top placed Moe 57-48 to keep their faint finals hopes in tact, while the Lady Steelers shored up their spot by hammering Bairnsdale.
Sale surged to second on the men’s ladder with a crucial pair of victories over ladder leader Warragul 70-63 and Western Port 121-80.
The Warriors showed symptoms of new year blues in their return to the court, also going down to Bairnsdale by four points on Sunday.
Semi-finalists will be penned in following the weekend’s final round.
ROUND 12 RESULTS
CBL GIPPSLAND MEN
Sale Sonics d Warragul Warriors 70-63
Bairnsdale Bullets lt Western Port Steelers 82-99
Sale Sonics d Western Port Steelers 121-80
Bairnsdale Bullets d Warragul Warriors 68-64
CBL GIPPSLAND WOMEN
Bairnsdale Bullets lt Western Port Lady Steelers 52-120
Bairnsdale Bullets d Warragul Warriors 66-62
Moe Meteors lt Maffra Eagles 48-57
