A second loss to Keysborough for the 2023 Big V Youth League 1 men’s season has had a two-fold effect on Geelong United.
Not only has the 97-92 defeat by the Cougars prevented Luke Beard’s men from securing a finals berth with three regular-season games remaining, but it’s also left them vulnerable to missing the playoffs altogether.
Geelong United sits fourth with a 13-6 win-loss record.
However, it needs to win at least one of its final trio of matches to avoid watching on come the finals.
With Hume City at home on Saturday afternoon (2nd, 15-5), a trip to Wyndham on Sunday (1st, 16-4) and a matchup against Sherbrooke (3rd, 19-5) on the final day of the season, Geelong United still has some work to do.
Despite the loss, Beard was happy with the performance.
“A really tough-fought game – it was close throughout,” he said. “Keysborough shot extremely well and, to their credit, had the momentum for most of the game.”
We had our moments and chances, and for the majority of the game, I was happy with how the team played.
“There is a couple of things we will adjust, but we had great energy off the bench and a real coming-of-age game for Bailey Bruce.
“Loss aside, we take away more positives than negatives.”
Bruce finished with a game-high 25 points while also tallying four rebounds, three assists and three steals.
Jack Moran had 21 points and seven rebounds, Marach Marach 18 points and ten rebounds, and captain Seth Garcia was busy with 12 points, six rebounds and five assists.
For the Navexa Geelong United Youth League Women, it would always be a tough ask against the unbeaten Eltham when injury, illness and unavailability left coach Jason Bannerman with just five players.
That included 14-year-old Miley Dawkins, who, in her second game, had no option but to play all 40 minutes against the Wildcats at Geelong Arena.
Coach Bannerman couldn’t fault the effort of the quintet that pulled on a Geelong United singlet.
“Our five played with a ‘never-quit’ mentality and ran the game out for the full four quarters,” Coach Bannerman said.
“When a jersey is put on for an association, this type of work ethic is what you want to see.
“Four-week extended holidays by a few others have left us short for the past five weeks, and it only takes a few extra curve balls to send the team into a testing situation like we have experienced in the past month.”
Acting captain Casidhe Green did all she could to keep Geelong United competitive, scoring 16 points and grabbing nine rebounds.
Jasmine King contributed 11 points, while Dawkins and Brooke Egan had four points apiece. Kayla Blazko battled hard on the boards, finishing with 12 rebounds.
United travel to Wyndham (4th, 14-5) this Sunday for their final road game of the season.
Tickets for the Youth League Men’s game are part of an NBL1 game night and can be purchased online via bit.ly/3JspNN5
