Basketball
8 December, 2024
Hornets survive late scare to make grand final
The Horsham Hornets are through to their second consecutive grand final following a tough 85-79 win over the Millicent Magic Men at the Horsham Basketball Stadium on Saturday night.
Millicent entered the game with only six players, but the Hornets came out with intent in front of a buzzing home crowd. Austin McKenzie, Freddy Frew, Mitch Martin, Cody Bryan, and Charlie Campbell scored points as the Hornets entered quarter-time with a seven-point lead, 18-11.
In the second quarter, the Hornets were stronger, and like the first, multiple players hit the scoreboard, led by Micah Livingstone coming off the bench, scoring eight for the quarter.
Fred Frew lit up the crowd, making two baskets in the last 22 seconds of the quarter to give the Hornets a 49-25 lead at half-time.
The Hornets came out fast at the start of the third quarter, scoring fast and extending the margin to a game-high 30 points, thanks to a basket to Micah Livingstone. Millicent hit back through Harry Mules and then called a time-out to regroup.
That time-out was a godsend for Millicent, as they outscored the Hornets 17 to six in the final five minutes to reduce the margin back to 17 points at three-quarter time.
With the momentum, Millicent came out firing in the fourth quarter, reducing the deficit to eight points with seven minutes to go. Harry Mules scored seven of the first nine points of the quarter.
Austin McKenzie and Micah Livingstone combined for the Hornets to extend the margin back to 13. Millicent scored 13 of the next 15 points, seven through Nelson Forbes and six through Harry Mules, as they brought the margin back to two points with 2.09 left to play.
Freddy Frew then rose to the occasion, shooting a clutch three-pointer to extend the margin back to five points. With 49 seconds left, a basket to Nick Morrison brought the scores back to three points, but Frew stepped up again and extended it to five with a strong layup.
Cody Bryan fouled Nelson Forbes, and he scored his three free throws to bring the margin back to two points. Millicent called a timeout with 17 seconds remaining.
Frew was fouled and made his two free throws under immense pressure, bringing the margin back to four points.
The Hornets finished the game, running out five-point winners, 84-79.
They will now play Mount Gambier in a repeat of last year's grand final after they defeated Warrnambool in a one-point thriller, 85-84.
Hornets coach Scott Benbow said they would take the win, but not how they did it.
"At half-time, we talked about how our energy was good and that we were sharing the ball around, making good decisions, and taking good shots. We also spoke about not changing what we were doing," Benbow said.
"Millicent came out, adjusted, and played that zone, but our second half was not Hornets basketball.
"They had energy, made shots, and we missed a couple and dropped our heads on a couple of things, and they pushed us and punished us, so we have a lot to work on."
Benbow thanked the crowd for their support, helping them over the line, and praised Freddy Frew for his fantastic final two minutes.
"The crowd was so important, and they were massive for us," Benbow said.
"Freddy was also massive. He was amazing and carried us in the last couple of minutes. He is maturing into a great player.
"I had to give him a rest, and Charlie did a good job coming on for him, but as we didn't have a true guard, I put him back out there, and he delivered under pressure."
Frew said that he took the shots, knowing the team trusted him.
"I think the rest of my teammates trusted in me to take those shots," Frew said.
"Mitch [Martin] harps on it a lot that if you are open, take the shot, not to re-penetrate it, and he has faith in anyone to do their role."
