Back-to-back for the Sunbury Jets

Ally Stewart. Picture Shawn Smits

By Tara Murray

There were plenty of celebrations on Saturday night as the Sunbury Jets’ Big V youth league women’s side celebrated winning back-to-back titles.

Having claimed game one in thrilling circumstances, the Jets did a bit easier in game two against Keilor Thunder on Saturday night.

The Thunder started well in front of their home crowd, before Jets kicked into gear in the second part of the first quarter.

From that point they were never challenged, winning 68-45.

Jets coach Andrew Seidel didn’t have the words to explain how winning the championship.

“It is still to sink in,” he said. “This group of ladies and the coaching staff are amazing.

“Deep down we always believed we had the ability. All these ladies play for each other and our on the same page.”

Seidel said they didn’t get off to the best start, but once they settled things fell into place.

“They came out all guns blazing in the first four to five minutes. I called a time out and said we had to absorb the pressure.

“We went on a 17-3 run in the back half of the first quarter. It was nice to get a lead like that.

“It was a matter of keeping a lid on it.”

The teams both scored 10 points each in the second quarter, before the Jets won the third quarter 27-13 to get a match winning lead.

With the win in the bank, Seidel used the opportunity to give their bench players a good run.

He said that was the most pleasing thing of the win.

Chloe Angove and Ally Stewart top scored for the Jets with 13 points.

Angove was named the grand final MVP after her game winning heroics in game one.

Seidel said Stewart wouldn’t have been far behind.

“She came on the court last week and knocked down a couple of important threes and did the same last night.”

The win comes after the Jets claimed the division 2 youth league title last season. They join their women’s side in winning two titles in different divisions in successive years.

Seidel said he couldn’t have imagined at the start of last season that they would win two titles in as many years.

Next season they will play in youth league state championship division.

“We’re going to have to go out and try and recruit a few more players to give us every opportunity to be successful,” he said.

“We were speaking as a group and we absolutely fell the team is building something.

“Thirteen of the group is from Sunbury and played Sunbury juniors. It’s really positive for the future.”