Team Rights Owners Matt Shanahan and Pat Reidy celebrated along with their Rays following the 95-81 victory that secured the inaugural championship of the Foot Locker Elite Classic – High Stakes Hoops. The winning side takes home $175,000 from what many are calling much-needed shot in the arm for professional basketball in Australia.
It didn’t come easy for the Rays as Shanahan, also the head coach, confined his team in an off-site hotel and conducted thorough video sessions along with two-a-day training sessions leading up to the event. His approach paid off, and started the buzz around his potential to be the next up-and-coming young coach in the Australian scene. His ability to recruit a nucleus of talent fitting of a Championship NBL roster turned heads early, but it was the on-court organisation of the team that validated his efforts.
The Championship Game saw a balanced attack from the Rays’ side with five players scoring in double figures. Kevin Lisch let with 23, Adam Gibson scored 20, NBL legend Tony Ronaldson added 15, Peter Crawford posted 11 and US import Freddy Robinson chipped in 10.
The second place Coasters, owned by Netball star Julie Corletto, were led by Kevin Ratzch with 17 points.