This year’s Bill McCarthy Memorial Shield was a battle for the ages.
There was everything you could hope for in such a match — incredible shot-making, intense physicality, a remarkable comeback, a roaring crowd atmosphere and, of course, a Shepparton Gators win.
The home side prevailed 92-87 over Warrnambool Seahawks to retain the McCarthy shield for the second year running and keep its position at the top of the Big V division one ladder for the time being, on Saturday night, June 3.
As the top two teams in Big V division one, the Gators and Seahawks left it all on the court in Shepparton, fiercely competing for more than basketball supremacy.
The Gators managed to carve out a seven-point lead heading into the half, but their advantage was quickly erased as Warrnambool came out of the changing rooms hungry.
Shepparton suffered through a frustrating third period, uncharacteristically turning the ball over and was unable to slow down the Seahawks’ offence.
Warrnambool's dynamic duo, Jamal Pollydore (20 points, seven assists) and Alex Gynes (25 points, nine rebounds), led the charge, with Pollydore displaying exceptional ball-handling skills and finishing at the rim amidst contact, while Gynes showcased his versatile scoring ability inside and outside the paint.
Heading into the fourth down by 12, it looked like the Gators might finally be second-bested on their home court.
Following what must’ve been a speech-and-a-half from coach Josh Waight, Shepparton refused to lie down, the outfit cutting a different figure in the fourth than the group that looked completely defeated the previous quarter.
Captain Matt Bartlett set the tone, leading by example with a lay-up to begin cutting into the deficit.
After Pollydore and Gynes got Warrnambool out to a 14-point lead, the largest of the contest, Derek Murphy responded with a rare three-pointer.
Bartlett set Nick Dodd up on a nice lob pass for an easy two, before dazzling the crowd with some unbelievable handles.
The skipper hit his defender with a lightning-quick behind-the-back dribble, making the opposing player tumble head-over-heels as if his shoes were tied together.
He then dished the ball off to a wide-open Dodd who remained automatic after a transcendent first half, cashing the three to complete the highlight play.
Shortly afterwards, Bartlett called his own number, stepping back for a three-pointer of his own.
Bolstered by an engaged crowd, the Gators intensified their defensive efforts, leaving Warrnambool visibly fatigued after its hard-fought lead vanished.
Sam Beks chased down an offensive rebound, before driving into the paint and pulling up for a short jump shot that bounced off the backboard and dropped through the net.
Dodd remained aggressive, getting fouled on a handful of drives and sinking the free throws, getting all the way up to a game-high 28 points.
The Gators brought it all the way down to a three-point game through a collective effort, but it was Murphy who brought it home.
Ignited by a heated exchange with a Warrnambool player, Murphy let his game do the talking, rousing the crowd to deafening levels.
Shepparton’s rampage forced a Warrnambool timeout in an attempt to regroup, and instead of hiking back to the team bench for instructions, Murphy walked to the front of the bleachers and began orchestrating the crowd, asking them to be louder.
Shepparton Sports Stadium shook as the crowd responded, a frightening sight for the Warrnambool faithful.
Murphy rode the crowd’s energy through the final minutes of the game, getting to the rim through sheer force of will, manoeuvring through defenders, converting shots amidst contact, and forcing fouls, icing the game and completing the comeback to defend Shepparton’s unbeaten record at the Swamp.
Coach Waight praised the fans in attendance, crediting them for helping the team get over the line, and said he had no issue with the crowd-pumping antics of Murphy, Beks and company throughout the game.
“Let them be who they are, they did a really good job of engaging the crowd and getting them involved and their actions did the talking in the end,” he said.
Waight singled out Dodd as a top performer and labelled his 28-point scoring display as his best game of the season.
Dodd humbly admitted the performance was one of his best this year, and said he was grateful for the opportunity to knock down open shots.
“I can back that up when I need to and am given the opportunity,” he said.
“The crowd don’t know how much they mean to us, they brought us back.”
The Gators were pushed to their limit.
Murphy and Bartlett went with injury concerns during the game before returning, and Matt Andronicos left the court early following a head knock and potential concussion.
Coach Waight said all players were all right and, with a week’s rest, should be available for selection next game.
The fixture is always a highly-anticipated affair regardless of either team’s position in the standings due to the significance of the McCarthy name in not just Shepparton and Warrnambool but in sporting realms across regional Victoria.
Bill McCarthy was a multi-award-winning sports journalist renowned for his coverage of basketball and worked at The News and Kyabram Free Press for 30 years.
Greater Shepparton Basketball Association created the shield in honour of McCarthy’s legacy following his death in 2016, with the fixture between Shepparton and Warrnambool chosen due to his connection covering both regions.
The Gators and Warrnambool united following the final buzzer as both teams made a speech and Bill’s sons Terry McCarthy and Bernie McCarthy presented the shield to the victorious home side.
It was a fitting tribute and a wonderful game of basketball played in McCarthy's honour, a contest he would have passionately written about.
The Gators have cemented their position in first for the time being with this weekend off, before heading to Patterson River Stadium for an away clash against Chelsea on June 17.