ABA 2025-26: Sonics Crabs claw their way to men’s B-grade crown but Barking Owls dominate the lower grades

While Sonics and Barking Owls were plundering the silverware in the A-grade finals last Friday night, the lower grades of the Albany Basketball Association were doing battle for titles of their own. It was a roll of honour dominated by the Barking Owls who clinched two men’s and two women’s titles on top of running away with the women’s A-grade premiership for the second year in a row. However, it was Sonics Crabs who won a humdinger against the Owls in men’s B-grade division one. Kristian Ericson, later named player of the final, scored the vital basket which clinched the match 36-34 with three seconds left on the clock. In the B-grade division two showdown, Royals beat Railways Tigers 36-31, Todd Knuiman top-scoring for the champions with 17 points and earning player of the match honours. In the men’s B-grade division three, Owls held off Infernos Nuggets 23-21 to take the flag with Mark Hassell the best on the night. Justin Benson was a grand final MVP for Owls, and he contributed 10 points to their win in the men’s vets’ competition. Owls creaked past Tigers 30-29, holding on as Warrick Ellery’s three-pointer for Railways piled on the pressure at the death. In the women’s B-grade division one, Donna Woithe of Owls was the player of the grand final as Wishart Homes Barking Owls beat clubmates TA Barking Owls 38-30 to the flag. Chloe Goodall, also of Owls, was player of the B-grade division two grand final and scored 12 points as they beat Tigers 24-15. Kathryn Slattery scored all bar two of the Tigers points in their losing effort. It was a one-point final between Sharks Teal and Mt Barker women’s division three, Lily Willock turning the tables for Sharks on the buzzer, turning 17-18 into 19-18 for a memorable win. Willock contributed 10 points for the champions. Mt Barker’s Jacinta Anderson was player of the final. Infernos beat Griffins Rockets 23-14 in the women’s 30-plus vets’ final with the champions’ Kirsty Ashwin the player of the match.