Basketball
24 November, 2024
Hornets secure top-two spot
The Horsham Hornets have secured a top-two spot in the Country Basketball League following impressive wins over Portland and Terang in a tough double-header in round seven.
The Hornets travelled to Portland on Saturday night, facing the Coasters at full strength in a tough encounter. In a physical clash, the Hornets took a slender three-point lead into quarter-time and extended it to four at half-time.
The third quarter was where it was won by the Hornets, coming out hard, scoring 26 to 19, with Cody Bryan nailing a three-pointer at the end to give the Hornets an 11-point lead at the final break.
The Hornets then continued that momentum into the last, scoring another 23 points. Hugh Dougherty rounded the game out in style with a three-pointer on the buzzer, and the Hornets ran out 21-point winners, 89-68.
Austin McKenzie scored a game-high 21 points for the Hornets, with Livingstone again his prolific self off the bench, scoring 20. Mitch Martin, 15, and Cody Bryan, 14, scored double figures.
Hornets coach Scott Benbow said it was a physical contest.
"It was a real physical encounter with lots of body contact, and the umpires let it go," Benbow said.
"Mitch Martin then did what Mitch does, and he shot five three-pointers, with a couple in the first half setting the game up.
"Cody's defense was terrific, and Charlie Campbell came off the bench, and his ball pressure was unreal. He did an excellent job on Toby Jennings.
"Jono Lovel played solid minutes, and Jake Hobbs contributed well. I was happy with how everyone played.
"We could use the bench in the last minute of the game, which was pleasing. We kept the starters on until that late to make a statement."
Backing up against Terang at the Horsham Basketball Stadium on Sunday, the Hornets came out of the blocks fast, scoring 23-10 in the first quarter and then adding another 21-11 in the second to lead by 22 points at half-time.
Despite having a comfortable lead, the Hornets kept at it in the third, scoring another 25 points to extend the margin to 31 before scoring another 26 in the last to run out 25-point winners, 95-70.
Austin McKenzie scored a game-high 20 points, with Micah Livingstone scoring 18. Jake Hobbs, 13, Charlie Campbell, 11, and Cody Bryan, 10, scored double-figures for the Hornets.
Benbow said he emphasised the importance of the first half before the game.
"I am very pleased the boys came out firing," Benbow said.
"We talked about how we have done the hard work in defeating Portland and that we needed to start fast and keep the momentum going.
"We then took the starters off, and the bench played for the last six or seven minutes of the game.
"Toby Lakin got some game time, and Ryan Pfitzner did a great job."
The win puts the Hornets on top of the ladder with 25 points, a game clear of Warrnambool in second place. With Warnnambool's regular season over, Mount Gambier can move into the top two and potentially top spot with two games in the final round next weekend when they host Colac and Hamilton.
The battle for the last final spot will be intense in the final round, with Portland having a one-point grip on fourth. Millicent and Colac are all ready to pounce one behind.
Portland plays Ararat, while Millicent hosts Colac and Hamilton.
Horsham, meanwhile, hosts Ararat on Sunday at the Horsham Basketball Stadium. If they win, they will finish first. Benbow said it's massive.
"We want that top spot, and if we get it, it will be huge for us," Benbow said.
"There will be a lot of pride in securing that, and winning form is good form, and it's vital to take that momentum into the finals.
"Ararat is a dangerous team, and we will be looking to go into finals with strong momentum."