February 1999 Volume 80 Number 2 "serving the protectors"
SA Police Basketball
by Adrian Holmes and Drew Bynoe

1998 Summer Grand Finals

The Commissioned Officers Cup season culminated in November with hard-fought victories to the Port Adelaide Pirates in the division one final, and Region B Bandits in the division two final.

The division one final was played between Port Adelaide and the old-timers of the competition, Crime Command. The game started at a fast pace with Port players Russell “Possum” York, Drew Bynoe and Warren “Chef” Milera pushing the ball up the court while trying to contain the Crime Command playmakers of Maris Akermanis, Mal Williams and Jock McKenzie.

The emphasis for both teams was on defence. Each attempted to stop the other from scoring without allowing the umpire to see the tactics. Sometimes umpires can’t see the most blatant fouls, a fact to which Matt Dillon can attest after copping a tech foul when hammered on a lay up.

A five-point lead to Port at half time was maintained for the first few minutes of the second half, but Jock McKenzie’s foul on a charge pulled out of the hat by Brett Wilson turned the game in Port’s favour. Without the big man in the middle, Crime Command turned to an outside game but were unable to pull back the deficit.

Port Adelaide was able to run out the clock finishing 10 points ahead of Crime Command, 70 to 60. Unfortunately for Russell York, he saw out the final four minutes of the game on the bench after receiving his fifth foul from an incorrect call by the umpire.

For Crime Command the underrated Dave Sheldon played a great game. He did not foul out in a final for the first time in living memory.

Members of the winning team included:

• Cameron Georg.
• Matt Dillon.
• Chris Brown.
• Drew Bynoe.
• Russell York.
• Warren Milera.
• Julian Snowden.
• Brett Wilson.

Jeanne Motteram was on holiday and Dan Lee was unable to come in under the salary cap.

The division two final was played between the Region B Bandits and the MFS Firees with chief bandit, Pete Murray, hitting the opening shot of the game - then missing his next five. A strong inside game from bandit Greg Barton kept the game close.

With only five firees playing and the fouls piling up on them, their numbers slipped to only three left on court with 10 minutes to go. The Bandits eventually took the advantage and came out on top with a healthy winning margin.

Championships

Adelaide will host the Australia-New Zealand Police Basketball Championships this year. With great effort and dedication from the club committee, we will make this event the best in the 20-year history of the championships.