HORSHAM Hornets wrote another page of their proud and rich history at Horsham Stadium on Saturday night.
The Hornets defeated McKinnon 110-82 in game two of their best of three grand final series to clinch the Big V division three championship in front of a sell-out crowd of more than 700 people.
Hornets officials were forced to lock the doors 40 minutes before the scheduled 7.30pm tip-off with the stadium at capacity.
A buzzing crowd greeted both sides for their warm-ups.
Horsham teenager Jacinta Grey brought the crowd to a stony silence with her touching version of Advance Australia Fair.
Moments later Hornets captain Tim Pickert shattered the silence with the Hornets' first basket in the first play of the game bringing the house down.
The Hornets doubled the Cougars score at quarter time to lead 32-16.
The Hornets opened the second quarter with uncharacteristic apprehension and the Cougars pounced to close to within seven points.
A visiting contingent of more than 50 McKinnon fans cheered loudly, sensing an upset in the wind.
But Hornets coach Barry McTaggart countered by putting Shaun Bruce and Damien Skurrie back into the game.
Skurrie tipped a missed shot in while jumping between two opponents to lift the home crowd instantly.
Bruce made a big three-point play while Hornets star Liam Norton netted a jump shot in the final minute to give the Hornets a 54-38 half-time lead.
The third quarter is known as the championship quarter and the Hornets opened the second half with a flurry of baskets powered by Cam Bruce and Pickert.
The Hornets enjoyed a 21-point lead when unsung forward Mark Dorward watched his looping jump shot bounce high above the ring and then fall through the hoop... it was their night.
An 83-61 three quarter time margin put the writing on the wall, but the Hornets still had to navigate the final quarter to claim their championship.
McTaggart began to bring his bench on with nine minutes to play when he gave teenage sharp-shooter Riley McFarlane his first taste of grand final basketball.
McFarlane promptly showed why he is considered a rising star, stealing the ball from Cougars star Michael Yialas.
He then got on the end of a Hornets fast break and scored a lay-up.
As the ball went through the basket Cougars captain Tom Burns forced Pickert to the floor in an act of frustration and was ejected. As Burns walked disconsolately to the change- rooms he was consoled by Hornets forward Marcus Wright with a hand across the shoulder as he walked past the Hornets bench.
Veteran Horsham Hornets guard Rhys Hughan got his moment on the court and drew the biggest cheer of the night when he swished a step-back jump shot late in the fourth quarter.
McTaggart returned to his starting five for the final minute.
Hornets guard Shaun Bruce, who had played with poise beyond his years, popped the first champagne cork with a stunning bounce pass to Pickert for a lay-up.
Fittingly, Pickert finished the game with the ball and flung it high into the air as the buzzer sounded.
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