THE Orange Basketball Association summer league season reaches its climax tonight with the senior league grand finals.
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The Gladstone Bulls and the Trojans will square off in the A grade men’s decider.
Both teams are stacked with experienced stars, with Harley Smith’s dominance on the glass for the Bulls set to clash with the sharp shooting skills of splash brothers Ben Keegan and Stuart Middleton.
Tellingly, the Bulls are the only side to beat the Trojans this season.
The KWS 1sts Girls have surprised many in making the A grade women’s final - everyone except themselves.
Improving markedly all year, the students will clash with the Sliders in the main women’s event.
The all-court scoring ability of the Sliders will ensure they head into today’s grand final as the heavy favourites, but the presence of Nikki Collins and the explosive speed of the KWS 1sts Girls’ back court will keep the students in the hunt.
The experienced Parkview Falcons and the youthful Lightning clash in the A Reserve men’s final.
Young legs and a dynamic Cameron Radburn will result in the Lightning holding the upper hand late in the grand final but a deep bench will ensure the Falcons have the ability to swoop on the title.
In potentially the tightest contest of all the senior grand finals, the Renegades clash with the Inland Bullets in the B grade men’s decider.
Kyle Gardiner is the inside presence for the Renegades but with the speed of Bullet Mitch McGovern patrolling the arc, expect a barrage of pick and rolls to free up the Inland Bullets’ star guard.
The C grade men’s decider will pit the D’Stingers against the Old Boys.
Stacked with experience, the speed and aggression of the D’Stingers may be the difference, but with John McIntyre dominant in the paint, the Old Boys will start the match favourites.
The Hoopsididitagain and BBs will go head-to-head in the B grade women’s grand final.
Two young teams on the rise, the athleticism of the McIntyre twins will make it hard for BBs to get control of the game, but the speed of Brie Annis-Brown may be their undoing.
The OBA’s summer league grand finals will begin at 6pm tonight at Anzac Park with the A grade women the main game.
The A Men grand final will tip off at 8pm.