Barking Owls snatch third men’s A-grade title on the back of a brilliant grand final from star Jordi O’Neill

Young star Jordi O’Neill led Barking Owls to their third Albany Basketball Association men’s A-grade title, beating Infernos 61-49 in Tuesday night’s grand final. The grand final was played in front of just a handful of spectators at the Albany Leisure and Aquatic because of COVID-19 restrictions, but Owls didn’t let that stop them charging to their first A-grade premiership since 2014-15. Owls have suffered a string of grand final defeats since then but rising star O’Neill ensured his side finished the shortened finals series as champions after a stunning most valuable player performance. O’Neill took more than five minutes to score his first points, and by half-time he had 15 points to his name. The prolific scorer finished with a game-high 32 points on his way to MVP honours in the Owls’ grand final triumph. Owls led by two points after a hard-fought opening half, but Infernos quickly grabbed the advantage early in the second period after a triple from Keanu Weeden. O’Neill scored the next seven points to get his side back in front, and from there they never went behind again, running out 12-point winners in the end. Both sides got into foul trouble in the second half, but Infernos hit one of nine three-point attempts and struggled to convert, as their hopes of a maiden title slipped away. Weeden did his best to drag his side back into the contest but the composure of Owls, led by veteran Justin Benson, was telling. O’Neill was closely guarded by Yero Elliott in the second half but he was hard to contain, driving to the basket and nailing a host of fade-away shots. His 32 points included one from long range and he was sent to the line on three occasions in the second half as Infernos did their best to put physical pressure on the young star. Lucas Ravenhill was vital in helping the Owls establish an early lead, hitting two from beyond the arc on his way to 12 points in the 61-49 triumph. Benson had another influential grand final, scoring seven points and helping cause several turnovers at the other end, while Hamish McMorran added 10 for the winners. Owls shot at 83 per cent from the free-throw line and hit three of their 13 long-range attempts. Saxon Henrickson was impressive for Infernos, hitting 12 points, and Weeden was slow to get going with only six points in the opening half but finished as their top scorer. Weeden nailed three triples and drove to the basket with great penetration on his way to 19 points in a losing affair. Infernos shot at 20 per cent from three-point land and hit six of their 10 free-throw attempts.