THE Mount Gambier Lakers travel to the Ararat Fitness Centre tonight for their Round 5 Country Basketball League clash with the Redbacks.
Kane deWit has been a consistent performer for the Lakers’ in the 2017-18 season and this week will likely see him at the top of the rankings once more.
DeWit scored over 30 points in both of his team’s Round 4 matches last weekend, making up a large portion of the final scores.
Last Saturday’s 35-point triumph over Portland Coasters saw deWit with 33 to his name, which included two three-point bombs and an impressive 12 two-pointers.
In the tougher nine-point win over the Colac Kookas, he managed to bag 31 points in the top-of-the-table clash.
The fact deWit could achieve this feat against the now second-placed Kookas, indicates the Ararat Redbacks – who currently sit third on the ladder – will need to hit hard at both ends of the court if they are to stay in the contest.
The side accounted for the Terang Tornadoes last week with a solid 21-point victory, but back in Round 2 the Kookas were too hot to handle for Ararat, handing out a 49-point defeat.
This suggests tomorrow’s match could be a similar blow-out, but the home-court advantage may work in the Redbacks’ favour.
The Lakers are yet to leave the comforts of home this season, so whether they can uphold their form on a foreign court will be a deciding factor for the rest of their season.
However, the talents within the Mount Gambier team will most likely shine bright once again, with deWit backed up by a solid line of contributors.
Dellon Brown is one such player, as he has been another consistent scorer for the Lakers.
He bagged a total of 31 points over the two Round 4 games and was joined by the likes of Zach deWit and Matthew Berkefeld, who scored 22 points each over the weekend.
Brown played a solid game against Colac, walking away with 19 points for the match, while also scoring 12 against the Coastsers the night before.
He will be another player the RedBacks will have to keep under close guard if they are to prevent the Lakers from running away on the scoreboard.
However, the Redbacks are not without their own depth, with each of its players contributing to the score in its previous matches.
Zachery Dunmore was the highest scorer for his side against Terang, with a total of 17 points, while Jesse Poulton (15) and Domenic Di Domenico (10) also broke into double figures.
Sam Cronin had a quiet match last week, but his 12-point game against Colac is one he will look to repeat, if not improve on going into tonight’s contest.
Nothing is ever set in stone, but with the form Mount Gambier has exhibited so far this season, all money will be on the Lakers as they take to the court for their Round 5 clash at 8pm.
