Basketball: Rose tips the balance as Bombers net last playoff spot

Brendan Rose ought to receive plenty of thanks from Bombers players this week.

The Varsity A (9-6) forward scored his only three points of the game in the dying seconds to help his team beat Magic A 82-79 on Saturday.

All the Magic had to do was win the game to earn the fourth and final playoff spot, but the loss - and the Bombers' 86-66 win over Varsity B (0-15) - led to both teams finishing the regular season with a 7 8 record.

The Bombers, who just a few weeks ago looked certain to miss the playoffs, sneak in as the fourth seeded team through the head to head tiebreaker (2-1).

The Magic, which won the competition in 2013, has lost four of its last five games and has now missed the playoffs for the past two seasons.

The Bombers, last year's runners up, will play third seeded Varsity in a sudden death minor semifinal this weekend.

Led by guard James Ross, the top ranked St Kilda Saints (13-2) will play Falcons A (9-6) in the other match.

Whoever wins will earn a week off and an automatic spot in the August 22 final, while the loser will play the winner of the Bombers Varsity game.

St Kilda beat the Falcons in two of their three matches this season, including a comprehensive 81-49 win on Saturday.

Matt Gillan top scored with 24 points and landed half of his team's 10 three pointers, sending a chilling message to the other three playoff teams.

The Falcons were simply blown off the court by the streaking Saints, who will take some stopping if they are to be denied a second consecutive title and 16th since 1991.

 

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