The Byron Beez basketballers travelled to Lismore for the finals of the Northern Rivers Sunshine Conference after a strong showing all season, but couldn’t get the wins they needed earlier this month.
The Women Beez played a hard-fought semi-final game against the Lismore Storm with a depleted squad. They came out strong and took the lead in the first quarter, but the Storm regained control and went on to win, ending the Beez season.
The Beez women’s team still ended the season with a big presence in the competition’s 2023 statistics, as four players (out of six regulars) were in the top ranks in four different areas.
Centre player Courtney Peat finished Champion of the Free Throws with 24 points and point guard Isy Crawford finished Champion of Three-Point Shots with 12.
The Ballina Breakers went on to win the championship by two points in a nail biting game against Coffs Harbour.
Beez Men
The Beez Men won their semi final game against Valley Braves White 50–47 to put them into the grand final.
The Valley Braves White then fought through another final to also make the grand final, setting up a rematch with the Beez for top season honours.
The Valley Braves ended up defeating Byron Beez by two points in an exciting bucket-for-bucket game that kept all the supporters on the edge of their seats.
Beez player Jeremiah Imasuen finished top of the conference for Average Points per Game with 20.67. He also featured in the top five of another three categories.
Along with all the other encouraging stats, Beez players Lilly Short and Dario Streble were chosen as a part of the Allstar Five teams.