Tara Murray
It was double joy for Wyndham in the Big V championship grand finals on Saturday night.
After having to make the grand finals the hard way, both Wyndham sides were able to win thrillers to make it two championships in three years.
The club became the first club to win both championship titles in 2022 and repeated history this year.
The women’s side was in action against the Bulleen Boomers first at Dandenong Basketball Stadium.
The sides were facing off for a third straight grand final. The first year, Wyndham won when it was underdogs, the second Wyndham was favourites before falling short.
This year, Wyndham was the top team all year before the Boomers knocked it off in the first week of finals.
On Saturday night, it was a low scoring affair.
After three quarters scores were level and a thriller was on the cards. Neither side could buy a basketball in the final quarter.
Wyndham did just enough to win the final quarter 6-4 and the game, 50-48.
Wyndham president Mike White said the match was what they expected.
“For the women it was a constant tussle all night which was to be expected with such evenly matched teams,” he said.
“Amanda Paschal showed why she was voted the MVP [most valuable player] for the game.
“We truly appreciated Lauren Jones for coming back all the way from the USA in order to play in this one game before getting back on the plane.
“It was dedication-plus.”
Paschal finished with 23 points and 14 rebounds. It’s a second grand final most valuable player award, having won it in the 2022 grand final.
Speaking with Big V media before the game, Paschal said they were super excited for the grand final.
“Focusing on our team and doing what we needed to do,” she said was the focus leading into the game.
“We went back and reviewed a lot of film and fixed the mistakes we needed to fix and we’re ready to play.”
Paschal thanked the Wyndham supporters for their endless support this season.
With the women’s team having claimed the title, the men’s side was then in action against McKinnon Cougars.
In 2022, the teams played at different locations but this year they were in one allowing all the Wyndham supporters to be there for both games.
The Cougars were the defending champions.
The match went down to the wire, with Wyndham winning 80-79 after a 23-15 final quarter.
“The men’s game was equally thrilling having been down by as much as 16 points in the last quarter,” White said.
“Some vital three point shooting from Daniaell [Herbert] closed the gap. With a critical block by Tomi [Ayilara] late in the quarter causing a turnover to Oskar [Jones] and the final three point bucket by Myles [Thomas] that enabled us to win with only 6.7 seconds on the shot clock made the stadium erupt.
“It was a great team effort that started from defence. Yet more critical blocks that denied McKinnon the win and a final steal by Troyce [Manassa] putting the result beyond doubt who then took off with the ball around the stadium.
“This was truly heart attack material for most of us.”
Manassa was awarded the game most valuable player, finishing with 26 points and five assists.
Ayilara told Big V media before the game that the team was super excited and ready to go.
He said they were keen to get some revenge for the last game they played against them.
Ayilara also thanked the supporters.
It wasn’t just the players on the court for Wyndham.
Two Wyndham technical officials on the scoretable in Dale Wheatland and Saxon Gibbon, while court announcer Wes Cusworth was part of the commentary team.
White said the wins were not only a testament to the players, coaches and support staff but also for the pathways for the youth of Wyndham.
Ayilara (Woodville), Aaron Dolny and Kane Hynes (St Andrews), Herbert, Beau Koscak and Joshua Norling (St Peters), Emmanwiel Deng (Hoppers/Flames), Jones and Mackenzie Drew (Iramoo) have all come through the Wyndham system.
“Congratulations to all the players, coaches, support staff and officials on a massive weekend,” White said.
“We’re looking forward to next year.”
