Echuca claimed the B-grade Goulburn Valley Leagie premiership over Seymour. Photo: Rechelle Zammit.
Echuca has completed an unlikely finals run, surging from fifth position to claim the Goulburn Valley League B-grade flag.
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The Murray Bombers took down minor premier Seymour 44-38 in the decider at Deakin Reserve on Sunday.
It looked as if Seymour may run away with the game early, as an opening blitz put the Lions ahead 7-0 before the Murray Bombers could find their first.
Echuca celebrates following the final siren. Photo: Jordan Townrow
The deficit started to close over the remaining minutes of the quarter and, although, Echuca got back within two at times, they went into the interval trailing 15-11.
The second period saw the Murray Bombers close the gap again and at 17-16 only trailed the Lions by a single centre pass.
Ecstasy for Echuca in B-grade.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
The two sides went back and forth over the rest of the period, but ultimately neither side could force the turnover on the opponent's possession to change the situation.
Echuca did take possession late in the period and had the opportunity to level it, but couldn’t make the move count, trailing by one at the half.
Lulu Slater spots a target.
Photo by
JORDAN TOWNROW
The Murray Bombers finally found their way in front in the third period, forcing the turnover to lead 26-25.
Seymour immediately got back on level terms, but Echuca surged again, earning consecutive turnovers and leading 35-31 at three-quarter time.
Defender Jesi Milligan was best-on-court for Echuca.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
The fourth remained a tight contest, but the Murray Bombers continued to keep their edge.
Echuca still led by four with five to go and would go even further in front late on, closing out the game 44-38.
Co-coaches Greta Pearson and Jacquie James were elated at their side’s performance, despite a slow start.
“I think the slow start was nerve-racking, but we knew we could do it, and we just kept pushing and (we’re) so excited,” Pearson said.
Bianca Willis fires for goal.
Photo by
JORDAN TOWNROW
Goal keeper Jesi Milligan earned the best-on-court honours for the game, proving disruptive to Seymour’s go-to shooter.
“She just had her hands on everything, came out for intercepts, moved her feet and just did really well,” James said.
“The pressure from the other defenders as well, bringing it all the way down and the constant pressure down the court allowed her to get up and get a lot of those, so I think it was a real team effort.”
Zayah James looks for a passing opportunity.
Photo by
JORDAN TOWNROW
Pearson concurred with her co-coach, praising the way Milligan slotted into the side’s game plan.
“We did lots of work in the last couple of weeks, with the combination of Lilli and Jesi,” she said.
Madeline O'Nial pushes the pace in midcourt.
Photo by
JORDAN TOWNROW
“That floating, coming off the body, hedging, anticipating and, I thought, as she worked into the game she did more of that and that’s how she got more of the ball.”
Echuca wouldn’t have been the consensus pick to claim the flag after finishing the regular season in fifth, but the side always had the belief it could get the job done.
The Echuca supporters were out in force.
Photo by
JORDAN TOWNROW
“We knew we were a top three side all season, we just dropped some games that maybe we shouldn’t have,” Pearson said.
“We had people in and out, so that caused a bit of disruption, so I think that impacted where we finished, but we felt like we were a top-three team the whole season and we knew if we could get to the granny and get into those finals we could do what we needed to do.”
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