Raiders finish runners-up

THE Knox Ford Raiders Big V Youth League women finished runners-up for the third consecutive year, after falling 62-54 to the Nunawading Spectres by eight points on Saturday night at Nunawading in game two of the best-of-three grand final series.
The Raiders came out firing early, determined not to be swept in the series. Solid contributions from all Knox players in the opening term had the girls leading by three points and regain some much needed confidence after the game one loss the previous week at Knox Converse Stadium.
Rebounding and second chance points proved to be the difference in the second, with the Spectres scoring 7 of their 18 points in the quarter off second chance opportunities.
With Knox big Jess Eason forcing to ride the bench with foul trouble, the Spectres were relentless off the boards, snaring 22 for the quarter, which included 13 offensive.
At the end of the half, Knox had seen its three-point lead at quarter time slip away into a five-point deficit.
In a game that was all about quarters, the Raiders fought hard in the third to give themselves any shot in the final term of forcing a deciding game three on Sunday afternoon.
Tammy Goyne (14 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 assists) and Danni Bone (8 points) provided Knox with some much needed three point shooting, the team hitting five in total for the third period.
It was the Raiders who also turned up the defensive pressure, forcing the Spectres into eight turnovers for the quarter, and resulting in a 21-12 third quarter result which had the Raiders going into the last with a four point buffer.
After a promising third, the Raiders couldn’t sustain their effort in the final term.
Nunawading’s Hayley Munro, who was named grand final MVP, was outstanding with 14 points and 14 rebounds while guard Emma Andrews also proved to be too much for the Raiders scoring 14 points of her own.
The Raiders could only muster 6 points in the final quarter to the Spectres 18 in a disappointing way to end the season. Sally Laing (14 points, 16 rebounds) battled hard for the runners-up but it was Hayley Munro whose class shone throughout the series.
This is the third consecutive year the Raiders have finished runners-up in the competition, after being beaten by Dandenong last year and Nunawading in 2005.