HEAT HIT THE HIGHWAY FOR GRAND FINAL DOUBLE!

The Sunraysia Petroleum Heat teams will head to Bendigo this Saturday for the 2022 CBL Grand Finals. To have both teams vying for championships is a huge achievement and a first for Mildura Basketball’s CBL program, and full credit must go to the teams, who have put in the work in what has been another disrupted season.

ROAD TO THE FINAL WOMEN – The Sunraysia Petroleum Heat Women After a 23-point Round 1 loss to Kyneton 90-67, the women, due to the weather event, did not play again until Round 6. With the required reshuffling of the fixture and other teams not as affected getting to play, it looked like it was going to be an outside chance at best for Heat to get anywhere near finals.

The Heat took the challenge and went on a 6W run heading into the Semi-final which would be a re-match against their Round 1 opponent Kyneton, where they turned the Round 1 23-point loss into a 23-point semi-final win, 85-62.

They now face the Bendigo Braves, the only team they haven’t played this season as the regular season game had to be abandoned. The Braves have been unstoppable this season at the top of the table with a 8W/0L record, which included their semi-final win against Maryborough on the weekend.

A challenge of the unknown for the Heat women, however, if the basketball they have put on the floor over the past few weeks is any indication, it is going to be a HUGE grand final.

MEN – The Sunraysia Petroleum Heat Men It has been a new look and new style for the men’s program this season, and it has paid off with the team now having a chance to take out the 2022 title.

Like the women, the men have had a sporadic start to the season, going down in Round 1 against Kyneton and not getting back onto the court until Round 5. Once rolling again, the team went on a 6W, 1L run to end the season in 2nd and going up against the 3rd placed Castlemaine Cannons in the semi-final.

The Heat came up against the Cannons in Round 5 where they lost 91 – 66, and for those watching the semi-final, would have thought the result was heading the same way with the Cannons getting out and holding a double figure lead for most of the game, however, the Heat kept their heads, made their way back in the last to grab the W at the final buzzer 82 – 79.

The Heat will now face up against the Melton Thoroughbreds, who have dominated the 2022 season with 10W/0L including a commanding 95 – 68 semi-final performance against the Bendigo Braves. The Heat came the closest of all teams to Melton in Round 9 going down by just 2points after leading for most of the game, which will a great motivator for Heat heading into this weekend.

The stage is set… our Heat teams, who are playing some absolute quality basketball and now ready to take it up to the league's best this weekend….. Let’s see what they can do!

HEADING TO BENDIGO? Venue – Red Energy Arena, 91 Inglis St, West Bendigo 3550 Tip Off – Women @ 5.15pm, Men @ 8.00pm Doors Open @ 4.15pm Ticket Prices – Purchased Online Only (click link below) Adult - $10.00 Junior (12 & Under) - $3.00 (must be accompanied by paying Adult) Family - $22.50 (2 x Adult & 2 x Juniors) PURCHASE TICKETS - CBL Grand Final tickets | Red Energy Arena | Ticketek Australia