NT heartbreak
Dream run ends within grasp of gold

Power jump: Team captain Cpl Aaron Marsh in action during the basketball game vs the Northern Territory as part of the Arafura games. Photo by LAC Allan Cooper

By Flg-Off Fiona Harris

THE ADF Men’s basketball team fell victim to the Northern Territory by one point and had to settle for bronze in the Arafura Games.

The 72-71 loss came as a bitter disappointment to the team, which had won six games in a row, beaten every team in the competition, and were favorites to take gold.

Coach WOFF Michael Kearney said the team had gelled well in the week of training leading up to the games and carried that over on to the floor in the preliminary rounds.

“The guys had a great attitude and bonded well on and off the court. We had great team defence which grew each game as the guys got used to playing together,” he said. “We were all a little disappointed with the final result after doing so well and going undefeated in the preliminary rounds but the guys did a superb job and came up with a bronze medal and that is something to be proud of.”

In a game where the lead changed almost every time down the floor, home court advantage was the key to NT’s win as the referees dished out 28 ADF fouls to NT’s 13 for the game.

With ADF ahead by one point with 25 seconds left in the game, NT brought the ball up the court and missed jump shot but Travis Ellis from NT came up with a scrappy rebound and scored to put NT ahead by one point with 3.6 seconds left on the clock.

The ball was in-bounded to ADF’s team captain Cpl Aaron Marsh’s hands for the last shot of the game. After dribbling through smothering defence in an attempt to get the ball down the floor for a look at the basket, a controversial charge call was made as the final buzzer sounded and NT advanced to the gold medal round.

“I knew I could get the ball up the court and take a lay-up and we did that exactly to plan and it was just unlucky that we had a charge called and time ran out,” Cpl Marsh said.

NT went down to the USA by 12 points in the grand final later that day.

The ADF women’s team had a disappointing start to the tournament, losing their first three games to Singapore, Torres Strait, and USA but found form in the home straight winning their final two games to finish fifth in the competition.

Team captain Flt-Lt Claire Ingham said while she thought the team could have done better, the players worked together really well in the end.

“I was happy that we were able to get a few good games under our belts in the end and leave on a pretty good note,” she said.

USA dominated the women’s competition taking out the gold medal with Malaysia runners up and NT was awarded the bronze medal.

More Arafura Games coverage next edition