14.07.2008 – Tim Wigg from Australian University Sport
The final day of competition at the 2008 East Coast Challenge (ECC) 09/07/08, saw the top university teams throughout the 10 sport program battle it out for the Gold, Silver and Bronze medals.
The home of the ECC Basketball competition for the three days of the Challenge Event has been Sydney Olympic Park’s State Sports Centre.
With an Olympic feel within and around the venue, the level of competition lived up to the settings.
Throughout the first two days of competition, The University of Technology Sydney was the stand out team, muscling up with a number of Australian Basketball Association (ABA) players.
UTS’s gun player included 23 yo Matt Unicomb (UTS number 13), a guard who has played previously for the NBL team West Sydney Razor Backs (2006/2007 season) and as an international for the Dutch League Team, Den Helder earlier this year.
The first Semi Final on Court One was the competition’s undefeated University of Technology (UTS) taking on their University comrades, University of Technology Team 2 (UTS2). It could be classified as a social game between mates, although the far stronger team UTS defeated UTS2 73 to 49 convincingly, sending them through to the Gold Medal Match.
Semi Final two on court two was a far more physical encounter with The University of Sydney (USYD) up against The University of NSW (UNSW).
It was the semi that attracted the crowds as the determination to make it to the Gold Medal match was evident through both teams’ bold play.
The first half saw many points scored by both teams ending USYD 33 and UNSW 47. Stand out plays came from UNSW’s power forward Morgan White (UNSW number 00) and Luke Overs (UNSW number 24).
1984 and 1988 Australian Basketball Olympian, Brad Dalton was watching the fierce contest court side. Dalton was coaching the Macquarie University Women’s Team and enjoyed the USYD vs UNSW matchup.
“UNSW are a hard team to beat at these Australian University Sport competitions. Their teams always seem to gell together extremely well,”
“To score 47 points in one half is a great effort for any team,” emphasized Dalton.
The third quarter saw USYD lift in intensity outscoring UNSW by one, keeping the UNSW at a 13 point lead going onto the last quarter.
Although in the last quarter UNSW stepped up due to some great team plays including an Ally Oop dunk by Luke Overs in the last 5 minutes. The end score was UNSW 89 to USYD 65.
With UNSW and UTS now making up the final, both teams enjoyed a 4 hour break to replenish fluids and talk tactics for the final.
A crowd of 30-40 people converged courtside to watch the East Coast Challenge’s Basketball Men’s Final.
The first half saw high intensity basketball laid down by both teams, although UTS maintained a 10 point buffer throughout.
UTS’s Mitchell Cork, an ABA player for the Sydney Comets was a stand out player with ability to weave past opponents and score a number of times.
By the time it was 3 quarter time the score was UTS 58 and UNSW 45.
Early in the fourth quarter both teams traded 3 point bombs. Matt Unicomb (UTS) landed a number of three point shots and was solid in defense.
There were some desperate attempts by UNSW to push to the basket that resulted in points at the free through line. UNSW’s Luke Overs made a half court steel and continued to the basket with a huge dunk with two and a half minutes to go. With 10 points the difference, this brought UNSW within reach of UTS.
The intensity was electric and both teams traded fouls, both going to the free through lines with one minute left on the clock. UTS kept cool under pressure and clinched the Gold Medal on 78 points and UNSW winning Silver on 67.
The UTS Team was thrilled with the win. “This win is very sweet for me personally as it is my last Uni Games event. It is also a sweet win as there were four really strong teams and the Gold could have gone to anyone,” said Matt Unicomb.
Unicomb also commented on his disappointment that he ineligible to compete at the 2008 Australian University Games (AUG) held in Melbourne 28th Sep – 3rd Oct.
“I finished University this Semester; I’m not a student next semester making me ineligible to compete which is very disappointing for me. There are a handful of players in the same position (UTS Team).”
“We have some young guns that are just starting their degrees though and I wish them all the best at the AUG’s,” continued Unicomb.
As the ECC Men’s Basketball competition drew close as did the 2008 East Coast Challenge.
Held each July, the Challenge (formally Eastern University Games) is renowned for providing a friendly yet highly competitive environment for student athletes from all over Australia, with the majority coming from New South Wales.
Other sports and their medal winners include;
Basketball Men
Gold: The University of Technology Sydney
Silver: The University Of NSW
Bronze: The University of Sydney
Basketball Women
Gold: The University of Sydney
Silver: The University of Technology Sydney
Bronze: The University of Newcastle
Hockey Men
Gold: Macquarie University
Silver: University of Newcastle
Bronze: Charles Sturt University
Hockey Women
Gold: Charles Sturt University
Silver: The University of Technology Sydney
Bronze: University of NSW
Lawn Bowls Open
Gold: Macquarie University
Silver: Macquarie University Team 2
Bronze: University of NSW
Netball Women
Gold: Charles Sturt University
Silver: University of Technology Sydney
Bronze: Macquarie University
Rugby League 7s
Gold: Macquarie University
Silver: Charles Sturt University
Bronze: University of Technology Sydney
Soccer Men
Gold: The University of Sydney – Cumberland
Silver: The University of Technology Sydney
Bronze: Macquarie University
Soccer Women
Gold: The University of NSW
Silver: The University of Newcastle
Bronze: The University of Sydney – Cumberland
Tennis Men
Gold: The University of NSW Team 2
Silver: The University of Sydney
Bronze: The of Technology Sydney 2
Touch Football Men
Gold: The University of Sydney – Cumberland|
Silver: The University of Newcastle
Bronze: Australian National University
Touch Football Mixed
Gold: Australian College of Physical Education
Silver: The University of Wollongong
Bronze: The University of Technology Sydney
Touch Football Women
Gold: The University of Sydney – Cumberland
Silver: Australian National University
Bronze: The University of Technology Sydney
Ultimate Frisbee Mixed
Gold: Macquarie University”
Silver: The University of Queensland
Bronze: The University of Sydney
Water Polo Fast 5s Men
Gold: Charles Sturt University
Silver: The University of Technology Sydney
Bronze: Charles Sturt University Team 2
Water Polo Fast 5s Women
Gold: University of NSW
Silver: The University of Technology Sydney
Bronze: Macquarie University