A monster final quarter effort has allowed Shepparton United to end Shepparton's reign over the Goulburn Valley League B-Reserve competition.
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United pulled off one of the biggest heists in the final quarter — scoring a staggering 17 goals to six — to claim victory in yesterday's grand final.
Trailing by three goals at the last break, United's sheer belief and determination willed it victory, with MVP medal winner Lexie Kildey shooting the lights out in the premiership-winning quarter.
The unbelievable last quarter effort from the Dees ended the Bears' 49-game winning streak and its four-year premiership run.
“It's absolutely incredible,” United coach Tania Orchard said.
“The two games the girls have wanted to win are against the Bears and what better way to get them in the grand final.
“That's when the best time is the sweetest, when you get them in a grand final.
“It was a great team effort today, the girls stuck to the game plan and came out with a fantastic win.”
At the beginning of the match, it was the Dees that started in the same fashion that they finished.
They caught the favourites by surprise and held an 8-2 lead at the first break.
It was their physical presence on the court that paved the way for their early dominance, with Michelle Barzen and Kirsty Hommes leading the way through the midcourt.
“Michelle and Kirsty brought a lot of physical pressure to the game,” she said.
“Kirsty went in making sure we were strong on that defensive line.
“And I think they helped get us the early advantage and it gave us so much belief.
But as good sides do, Shepparton fought back to take the lead, with league best-and-fairest winner Tanya Holland getting things rolling in goals.
Shepparton's Casey Thompson was important in defence, as she tried to keep Kildey in check.
And before long, the Bears held a slight three-goal lead at the final break after a strong third quarter effort had them outscore United 14-8.
With the game slowly slipping out of reach of United, the crowd was left stunned as the Demons ran over the top of the Bears in the brilliant final quarter.
“They stuck to their game plan which was to turn the ball over in the midcourt and they did it perfectly,” Orchard said.
“It just allowed us to stop getting the ball in to their tall shooter.
“The girls had some belief they could take this out, full credit to them, they just blew away with it and I'm so proud.”
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