Last Friday was a largely successful one for the Falcons and plenty of teams get the chance to push further ahead with their season in week two of VJBL Finals.

VJBL Finals Week 2 - Friday August 26

Boys Under 12.1 – VJL 2

Elimination Final vs Casey 2

7:40pm Dandenong Court 7

The double chance comes in to play here as they young guys put in a brave effort but fell short last week against Nunawading. No more chances after this though, they need to get the job done. It’s been a tricky season series, given Casey got it done in a canter earlier in the season but the Falcons managed to grab a win the next time. Both games were high scoring, so it’s a real coin flip.

Boys Under 14.1 – VJL 3

Semi-Final vs Corio Bay

7:40pm Werribee Court 3

A rare finals trip out to Werribee is what greets our top-of-the-table finishing young men. Corio Bay won a very high scoring game last week so they will need to pack their best defence for the trip across the west gate. The winner of this game gets a ticket straight through to the Grand Final, while the defeated will have one more chance. The Falcons won both encounters this season by double figures but finals is a different game.

Boys Under 14.2 and Under 14.4 – Regional 3 Central

Semi Final: Waverley 2 vs Waverley 4

6:40pm Waverley Court 4

It’s rare to get a Falcons derby in finals, and the best bit is that we might get it again in a couple of weeks at the Grand Final. The winner of this game will get there, the vanquished will need to get a win next week. The 4s did a great job defeating Diamond Valley last week for the first time this season, while the 2s watched and waited. The season series was a 1-1 split, and we’re all pretty excited that we can guarantee a Falcons Grand Finalist before the second week of finals.

Boys Under 14.6 – Regional 6 East

Elimination Final vs McKinnon 5

8:40pm GESAC Court 3

Another team to wait until finals to beat a team for the first time, the boys got it done over Eltham to set up this battle with McKinnon. It’s a must-win scenario the whole way through for these guys but sometimes that is what brings the best out of a team. It was a close series during the season, a draw and a three point win to McKinnon, the guys might be a real shot to get through if they can step up like they did last week.

Boys Under 16.2 – Regional 1 East

Elimination Final vs Frankston 3

8:40pm Chelsea Court 1

The guys did a great job holding on against Dandenong last week and now they can make it a step further in this elimination game against Frankston, who lost to our threes last week. Frankston got the win both times during the season, but they were both close, five points or less. It doesn’t take much to edge that advantage your way, and if it is a typically high scoring game, five points or so can be made up very quickly.

Boys Under 16.3 – Regional 1 East

Semi Final vs Nunawading 3

9:40pm Ringwood Court 1

After their aforementioned win over Frankston last week, these guys are just one win away from the Grand Final, a place a few of them know well. Although the specs finished first, the series was a split between the teams. The first game was a one point thriller the way of Nunawading, but the Falcons came good the second time and delivered a 10 point win. This should be a ripping game with so much to play for.

Girls Under 12.2 – VJL 2

Semi Final vs Frankston 2

7:40pm Sandringham Court 3

How about a team that just loves to have close games, and win most of them. After they rode the edge of the cliff to finish third, they then recorded a breathtaking three point win over Knox to suddenly land them one win out from the Grand Final. It’s a fair ask this week though; Frankston went 17-1 during the season, although one of their wins over Waverley was only by 2, so the climb might not be insurmountable.

Girls Under 14.1 – VC Reserve

Qualifying Final vs Warrandyte

7:00pm Knox Court 1

The girls are our only VC finals team and carry the hopes of a nation. Sorry, too much Olympics. Anyway they’ve done very well to finish fourth and earn a double chance. They play the first placed Venom, but this was only a one point loss when they played a while ago, and with the freedom of the double chance taking the nerves away, you’d give them a real shot here.

Girls Under 14.2 – VJL 4

Elimination Final vs Pakenham

8:40pm Dandenong Court 7

A win over Sandringham in last week’s elimination final has booked the girls a matchup with Pakenham in this week’s elimination final. In a strange season series, the Falcons had a comfortable win at Pakenham, before the Warriors turned that around on the Falcons home floor for a solid win. Given finals are at a neutral venue and neither of these teams seem to like playing each other at home, we’re tipping a close game.

Girls Under 16.3 – Regional 2

Elimination Final vs Ringwood 4

8:40pm Nunawading Court 4

The AFL might be doing the bye round before finals this year, but the girls have already experienced that. The shorter finals meant a week’s rest so they’ll refreshed to take on the Hawks in the elimination game. They need to find a way to put the ball in the hole, while not disgraced against Ringwood during the season they have had the struggles offensively. Make a few shots, and they’ll be right in this one.

Girls Under 18.2 – VJL 3

Elimination Final vs Camberwell

8:40pm State Basketball Centre Court 3

They might be playing the Dragons, but the Falcons can’t afford to be draggon’ their feet in this one. The Falcons caused a bit of a turn up against Craigieburn last week, and that is the form you want heading into a game against the team that finished second. It’s curtains for the loser, and with the season series split between the two teams it should be another good game.