Breakers quench their title thirst

By Hamish Donaldson

Dec 12, 2023

First of many: Benalla Breakers celebrate after their grand final win. Photos: Brenden Paddock Photo by Brenden Paddock

Breakers by nature, Breakers by name.

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Benalla has claimed its first North East CBL title.

At 8pm on Saturday at Shepparton Sports Stadium, Myrtleford and Benalla stepped onto the court for the 2023 North East CBL decider.

A strong start by the Saints kicked Benalla into gear.

Eye on the prize: Lachlan Kego focuses on the net. Photo by Brenden Paddock

The Breakers’ second-quarter blowout proved the difference.

The minor premiers claimed the major prize by 12 points.

Coach Wally Armstrong was quietly confident his team would come out the victor.

“During the year, we were the best side, but we worked hard, we were down early, and then we got the ascendancy and sort of kept our nose in front from there,” Armstrong said.

“We just settled into the game better.

“We were 10 points down at one stage in the first quarter and we didn’t panic. We didn’t call time out when it was like that.

“We just had to play our way through it.

“So it’s just emphasised that we stick to what we know best.

Threading the needle: Tom Downie drives through the Myrtleford defence. Photo by Brenden Paddock

“While he (Eric Miraflores) won the MVP for the game, I think each player stepped up in their own right and their own role during the night.

“Jordan Munro scored our early points from the point guard position and he was great. Hit some clutch shots down the stretch.

“Sam Beks was probably the best player on the court there at one stage.

“Between (Tom) Downie, (Lachlan) Kego and Riley Kego, they would have had at least 30 rebounds.

“Eric put the polish on it, certainly by shooting and playing and everything like that.”

Calm before the storm: The Breakers’ coach and playing team line up before the grand final. Photo by Brenden Paddock

After seeing off their arch-rival Seymour in the semi-final, it seemed like the Breakers were going to get their hands on the flag, but Myrtleford had other ideas.

The Saints took an early break in a high-scoring first quarter, claiming the spell 21 points to 25.

Unfortunately for Myrtleford, all its first-quarter forays did was poke the bear.

You could almost see the fire burning in the Benalla starters’ eyes as they took to the court for the second period.

Miraflores, Beks and Munro hit the scoreboard regularly, giving Myrtleford no indication of who to shut down in defence.

Lachlan Kego proved an important outlet as he, too, hit the scoreboard and used his size to his advantage.

Bring it down: Lachlan Kego cuts down the net. Photo by Brenden Paddock

By half-time Benalla had turned a four-point deficit into a six-point lead.

The advice from Armstrong at half-time had Benalla firing in the third quarter.

The Breakers hit a game-high 27 points for the quarter.

However, the Saints were unwilling to give up the game and scored 24 points themselves, keeping the game alive going into the season’s final quarter.

Myrtleford deserved to be in the grand final and it showed its quality in the final spell.

It went toe-to-toe with the Breakers, but Benalla’s main men were putting on season-defining performances.

The league's best: Eric Miraflores claims the North East CBL MVP award. Photo by Brenden Paddock

As has been the case all season, Miraflores was unstoppable given the slightest bit of space.

He hit a game-high 30 points.

Beks had one of his best-attacking performances of the season as he landed 25 points, and Munroe and Kego also contributed to the tally with 16 and 17 points, respectively.

Munro’s four three-pointers kept Myrtleford in check, forcing the opposition to close him down, which provided space everywhere.

All in: The Benalla team and supporters celebrate together. Photo by Brenden Paddock

Benalla clinched the final quarter by three points and claimed the North East CBL prize for the first time.

Miraflores was awarded game MVP and league MVP and claimed a spot in the North East CBL All-Star Five.

Armstrong said the Benalla supporters were crucial to the side’s success this season.

“The crowd was absolutely unbelievable,” he said

“It probably was hard to split who had the most (supporters). But Myrtleford, to their credit, had a great number of people and then our supporters were doing the same.

“So, no matter which way you were, there’s plenty of voice and plenty of noise,

“The stand was packed.

“When we won the game, even at the end of the video, I think our kids and our abilities team were just as excited as the adults were after they won it.”