BARBER Babes has finished its Hamilton Basketball Association (HBA) women’s division one winter season on Tuesday with a huge upset of Minders in the final round of the season, 36-30.

Barber Babes was determined to end the season on a high and the team came out for the first half seeking to impose their game plan on Minders from the opening tip off.

By the sounding of the buzzer to end the first half, Babes was ahead by two points, as the players shared the scoring around, while Minders was more content to attack through Tahlia Ross.

Defence of each team was far stronger in the second half, as the players from both teams struggled to score, but Isabelle Johnson (11) and Ross (15) top scored for Babes and Minders respectively.

Minders enter the finals having lost its last two games in a worrying sign for the team, and next week they face Tigers in an elimination final.

The only solace they can take is that back in round 10 Tigers was defeated by Minders in the last meeting between these two teams.

Babes must wait until the start of the HBA summer season for their next game.

ST MARY’S ORANGE has wrapped up the minor premiership by outlasting St Mary’s Black in a see-sawing game, 35-27.

Orange came out in the first half and showed the rest of the competition why it finished on top of the premiership ladder, blowing Black off the court to lead 22-8 at the half time buzzer.

Grace Cleaver had the hot hand for Orange, dominating the boards, as the defence strategy held Black to only eight points.

Black returned to the court determined to climb back into the contest and the side dominated the second half to reduce the final margin to only eight points, as Maddox Ryan, Saskia Gould and Holly Rhook all found their shooting range.

The teams play each other again next week with the winner gaining entry straight into the grand final, while the loser has to suit up again the following week to battle either Minders or Tigers.

Division 1 Men’s

ST MARY’S ORANGE has thrown down the gauntlet for the rest of the HBA division one men’s competition to pick up after a stunning victory over minor premier, Barber Boys White on Wednesday in the final round of the Hamilton Basketball Association winter season.

Orange was on fire against its opponent, outscoring Barber Boys White in both halves to record a 45-38 victory.

At the sound of the buzzer for the end of the first half, Orange held a two-point lead with Deacon White and Charlie Alexander providing two scoring avenues for their side.

The game followed the first half when play resumed, as Orange continued to attack its more fancied opposition, and added a further 24 points for the second term to run away from Barber Boys White, despite the best efforts of Jakob Greaves (11).

The win left Orange in third place and will battle Barber Boys Black next week in the elimination final.

MINDERS made light work of its game against Barber Boys Black, as the side claimed second spot on the ladder and a double chance in the finals with a resounding 57-19 victory.

Minders dominated the opposition with an outstanding defensive effort in the first half, only allowing Barber Boys to post four points in the first half.

The second term saw it improve to add a further 15 points, but Minders improved too with an extra 32 points added to its tally.

Joshua Miller (14), Paul Churchill (12) and Raizen Castro (10) all posted double figure tallies for Minders in the win.