A tense match from start to finish, the Gators weren’t able to hit their shots down the stretch, as a red-hot Bellarine stormed home to claim a 63-60 triumph.
The Storm took full advantage of a dominant third quarter, limiting Shepparton to six points and adding 18 themselves to flip a 10-point half-time deficit into a two-point lead at the final change.
And with a raucous home crowd behind it, Bellarine saluted in a gripping last quarter, putting all the pressure back on the Gators as the series now shifts to Shepparton Sports Stadium for games two and three.
Its first loss of the 2022 finals series, Shepparton coach Josh Waight said his team took a lot of lessons out of the fierce contest.
“It was a game of ebbs and flows and unfortunately we came away on the wrong end of the result,” Waight said.
“We did a really good job early in the game, especially on the offensive end in getting the shots we wanted, but as the game went on we struggled to hit those key shots.
“To Bellarine’s credit they hung around, made their shots down the stretch and took advantage of our mistakes.
“But overall I was really happy with our defence, it’s just on the offensive end where we need to improve come game two.”
Coming into the match as the two form teams of the competition, the Gators were able to quickly take the opposition crowd out of it with a clinical first term.
On the back of Garrett Jefferson’s offensive firepower and its stringent defence, Shepparton continued its momentum into the second quarter, extending the margin into double digits by the main change.
But as the game looked to be in Shepparton’s control, Bellarine roared to life.
With star centre Rohan Jarvie leading the way, the Storm produced a third quarter for the ages to flip the script on the Gators, as they took the lead and all the momentum leading into the final term.
“I think they really stepped up their defensive intensity and we didn’t move the ball the way we needed to in that third quarter, which really hurt us,” Waight said.
“We had a few uncharacteristic turnovers and some of the shots we usually make we missed, so full credit to Bellarine they were awesome in that third quarter.”
Separated by two points, the final quarter had both teams trade blows in what was a thrilling display of division one basketball.
But in the end, it was Bellarine’s composure at the free throw line that helped it secure the victory, with the Gators unable to make the most of their opportunities in the crucial final minutes.
“We felt like we got some really good looks at the end, but they just weren’t dropping,” Waight said of the final minutes.
“Bellarine did a great job of finding their good shooter and knocking their shots down, and at the free throw line they made all of their shots while we missed far too many.
“In the end that (missing at the free throw line) probably cost us.”
Jefferson was the standout on the offensive end, finishing with 20 points to be the only Gator in double figures.
While Tom Frame, Nick Dodd and Jordan Michel were excellent on the defensive end.
The grand final series now shifts to Shepparton, with game two set for Saturday night and game three if required on Sunday afternoon.
