THE business end of the Country Basketball League season has arrived, with the Mount Gambier Lakers men set to fight for the South West conference honours against Geelong United tomorrow night.
After an impressive season, which saw the Lakers drop just one minor-round game, it all comes down to one last contest.
As the defending champions – and having defeated Geelong in their minor-round clash – the Lakers would go into the grand final as favourites.
With the game set down for the Lighthouse at Portland, there is no home-court advantage, with both clubs covering a substantial distance to play.
Geelong comes off a tough eight-point victory over Horsham Hornets in its semi-final, while the Lakers handed the Colac Kookas a thrashing to the tune of 40 points last weekend at the Icehouse.
The two sides faced off back in round seven, where the Lakers claimed the honours by a healthy 28 points.
Kyle Tipene topped the score sheets in that contest with 25 points, while Simon Berkefeld finished the night with 18.
Lachie Hunter, Sam Stafford and Jak Ryan also reached double figures in a scenario not unusual to the side this season.
Geelong boasted four double-figure scorers, with Max Kos the best with 16 points.
Cohen Blythe, Marach Marach and Wang Nyieth were also impressive around the basket.
Last week’s semi-final saw a similar scenario with the Lakers, but Kurt Rodis and Mitch Hunter chipped in with double-figure scores, rather than Stafford and in the absence of Ryan.
The side would have to be the deepest in the contest, with any players on the roster capable of starting the game on the floor.
That depth was shown last week when the Kookas threatened early, but after the first substitutions the Lakers took control.
However, for coach Matt Berkefeld the grand final is anything but a foregone conclusion, despite the impressive form of his side this season.
He said it would be a new challenge, after just the one clash against United this season.
“We have only played Geelong once this year and to be honest, we do not know a whole lot about them,” Berkefeld said.
“It is a new challenge for us and the boys are pretty excited about it.”
Berkefeld said the last victory over Geelong was somewhat misleading, with some players missing from the visitors’ roster.
He said his side also trailed at half time, which showed Geelong’s ability to take the game right up to the defending champions.
“They are the sort of side that has a lot of shooters who can get going if we are not disciplined enough,” Berkefeld said.
“The game they lost to us is their only loss this season and they have been pretty dominant since then.
“From our point of view I think the guys are coming in with the right attitude, we are respectful of them and know if we are not disciplined defensively they could really get hold of us.
“But at the same time we feel we have a style of play that has worked for a long time and we are confident we can get it done again.”
Berkefeld said a key to the game would be not to adapt to Geelong’s game, but to force United to face the Lakers’ style of play.
He said going in as defending champions should not affect his players on the night.
“I guess the area it gives us confidence is we have a group of guys who, not only last year, but over the course of many years, have shown up and played their best in the big games,” Matt Berkefeld said.
“The fact we have been able to do this before holds us in good stead.
“I know I have a group of guys who will stay composed in the big moments.”
A pressure-cooker situation can of course be expected, with Geelong sure to be motivated to dethrone the Lakers.
However, Berkfeld said he is confident his players are up for the challenge.
“Only time will tell what the result will be, but one area I am comfortable with is our guys have done everything they possibly can to prepare,” he said.
“The guys have shown great commitment throughout the year, getting to training early, staying late, doing all the extra work needed.
“That does not guarantee we will win the game, but we will go in knowing we have done everything we can up until this point.
“My belief is if you do the work, the result will take care of itself.”
The game tips off at 8pm, following the Warrnambool Mermaids versus Millicent Magic women’s grand final.
