Champion duo do the doubles

The second of the two yearly Narrabri Basketball Association seasons came to an end last night when the two competitions’ grand finals were hosted at the local courts.

Both the mixed and men’s deciders were played, with both finishing as close contests which were decided by just four points.

This season the two grand final-winning teams were the minor premiers of their respective competitions.

In the mixed grand final the RSL Raptors downed third-placed Bowlo Dry Lakers 27-23, before the Tatts Titans defeated Telstra Magic 24-20 in the men’s decider.

The night was a special one for two players in particular – Mitch Nairn who was a member of both winning teams on the night and Sarah Hewett who played for the winning Raptors team before being awarded the mixed competition’s leading point scorer trophy during the post-game presentation.

The mixed player of the final went to RSL Raptors’ Pete Calsena, while Tatts Titans’ Cooper Brayshaw earned the men’s player of the final trophy.

The other individual award recipient on the night was Adam Hennessy who was named leading point scorer in the men’s competition.

Men’s champs: Tatts Titans - back, Toby Knight, Ashley Kelly, Cooper Brayshaw, Mitch Nairn, front, Keiran Jobson, Stanisiaus Iramu and Campbell Hancock. Men’s champs: Tatts Titans - back, Toby Knight, Ashley Kelly, Cooper Brayshaw, Mitch Nairn, front, Keiran Jobson, Stanisiaus Iramu and Campbell Hancock.

Mixed champs: RSL Raptors - back, Ashlea Smith, Paul Bushby, Laura Dean, Emma Whitton, Sarah Hewett, front, Pete Calsena, Michael Hewett, Mitch Nairn and Andrew McManus. Mixed champs: RSL Raptors - back, Ashlea Smith, Paul Bushby, Laura Dean, Emma Whitton, Sarah Hewett, front, Pete Calsena, Michael Hewett, Mitch Nairn and Andrew McManus.

Men’s competition player of the grand final Cooper Brayshaw (Tatts Titans). Men’s competition player of the grand final Cooper Brayshaw (Tatts Titans).

Mixed competition grand final player of the match Pete Calsena (RSL Raptors). Mixed competition grand final player of the match Pete Calsena (RSL Raptors).

Mixed competition leading point scorer Sarah Hewett (RSL Raptors). Mixed competition leading point scorer Sarah Hewett (RSL Raptors).

The first match of the Narrabri Basketball Association grand final night was the mixed game.

In that contest the Raptors entered the half-time break with a two-point advantage, ahead 14-12.

Raptors’ Michael Hewett opened the scoring early in the match when he sank a bucket from close range after being found wide open by Paul Bushby.

Four more Raptors players scored points in the opening half.

Ashlea Smith added two, Sarah Hewett and Pete Calsena scored three each and Emma Whitton led the way with four.

Bowlo Dry Lakers’ Rebecca Francis was the game’s leading point scorer at half-time with six.

Teammates Onika McConnell, Rick Duggan and Josh Geddes all chipped in with two each.

In the second stanza it was a familiar duo who led the way for the Raptors side which outscored the Dry Lakers 13-11 to secure a four-point victory.

The competition’s leading scorer Hewett added four more points to her tally to finish the game with seven, while Calsena stood up when it  mattered, scoring nine second half points including four crucial late points to finish with a game-high 12 to guide his side to victory.

Bowlo Dry Lakers’ Francis scored four second half points to finish with a team-best 10, while Duggan sank a three to finish with five points, Geddes scored two to finish with four and Sophie McFarland chipped in with two.

In the men’s match the Tatts Titans outscored defending champs Magic 17-10 in the opening half to take a crucial lead into half time.

Tatts’ Mitch Nairn led the way with a half-best seven points while teammates Cooper Brayshaw and Toby Knight added four each and Stan Iramu contributed two.

Telstra Magic’s Bill Melbourne and Steve Berger scored four points each for their team after Calsena scored the first two points of the game.

In the second stanza Magic outscored the Titans 10-7, however that was not enough to overturn the deficit.

Tatts’ Knight scored five more points and Nairn added two as they finished with nine points each, a joint best for the contest.

Magic’s Berger scored four more points to finish with a team-high eight, while teammates Melbourne, Kaleb Teer and Josh Briggs all scored two each in the second half.