With the Dunedin club basketball playoffs beginning today, Jeff Cheshire looks at how the four teams shape up.
Mid City Magic
Season record: 15-0
Unbeaten all season and looking to go one better than last year’s runner-up finish. The Magic has depth and all its players are scoring threats, both at the hoop and from the outside. It is a young squad — its oldest player is 23 — and looks to push the pace in transition to make up for a lack of genuine size. In Josh Aitcheson, it has the league’s best player and, if things get tight, he is a player capable of taking over, as he did last weekend when he scored 17 fourth-quarter points.
St Kilda Saints
Season record: 11-4
The Saints are going for their fourth consecutive title, but come in as underdogs this time. It remains a dangerous team, though, operating efficiently and can be deadly from the outside. Does not have the depth of the Magic, but has a quality top end. In James Ross, the Saints have a star do-everything point guard, while Matt Gillan, Liam Aston and Jamie Macdonald are all capable of scoring big on any given day.
City Rise Bombers
Season record: 7-8
Started slowly, but won four in a row before being pipped by the Magic last weekend. A feisty team which always battles hard, the Bombers possess a variety of threats — none more so than knockdown shooter Olly Smith and crafty veteran Steve Robinson. Will play the Falcons for a spot in Wedneday’s semifinal against the loser of the Magic v Saints game, the winner of which advances to the final.
Andy Bay Falcons
Season record: 5-10
Have shown glimpses all season, but often bad quarters have cause them to slip away. They possess arguably the league’s best big man in Matt Bazsika, while Hamish Robertson and Tom Davison provide threats in the backcourt. Will not be lacking in motivation as they play for Alex Yarnall, who was diagnosed with leukaemia last week.
