Mount Gambier Lakers 101 d Ararat Redbacks 57
THE Mount Gambier Lakers dodged the Ararat Redbacks’ bite in Round 8 of the Country Basketball League South West Men’s clash at the Icehouse on Sunday with a dominant team performance.
The Lakers easily accounted for their visiting rivals – eventually taking the game by 44 points – to maintain their unbeaten record.
A team effort had Mount Gambier over the line, but it was once again Kane de Wit who led by example.
He finished with 30 points, which included three from outside the three-point arc, while also applying good defensive pressure.
Mount Gambier had the momentum early and drew first blood in the opening seconds of the match.
The lead was stretched to five points when de Wit sunk a shot from down town and the hosts confidence only lifted.
Brown, de Wit and Berkefeld were working hard to create opportunities from the perimeter, while Stafford positioned himself well inside to chip in with a few points under the basket.
Mid-way through the term the Lakers held a 13-point lead and did not look as though they were taking the foot of the pedal anytime soon.
However, a time-out was called and Mount Gambier’s momentum was stopped.
Ararat began to dominate and was able to shrink the margin back to five points, before a late run by the Lakers extended it back out to 12 by the break.
Mount Gambier swung the momentum its way early in the second through both Stafford’s presence inside the key and de Wit’s accuracy and pace on the drive.
The Redbacks did not give up hope with Zachery Dunmore putting in his best to keep his side in the game.
However, the Lakers continued to find the answers and pushed their lead out to 22 points by half time.
Mount Gambier was dominant yet again in the opening minutes of the third quarter as it piled on 11 points, while holding Ararat scoreless.
The visitors failed to score in the opening four minutes of the term, until Dunmore found his way to the hoop mid-way through the quarter.
But it was not enough to put a stop to the dominant Mount Gambier outfit.
Jack Wirth and Brodie Jolley were holding their own for the Lakers, contributing well on the scoreboard and Mount Gambier was ahead by 35 points come the last break.
Ararat’s defensive intensity lacked in the final stanza, which allowed the Lakers an easy avenue to the hoop, which paid off on the score sheet.
In a solid team effort, Mount Gambier continued to assert its dominance and each player made their time on court count.
The Lakers continued to increase their lead and mid-way through the fourth quarter the difference was 44 points.
The Redbacks bounced back late in the game, but only for Mount Gambier to reply with points of their own.
In the end the Lakers took the game by 44 points.
De Wit was well supported by Matt Berkefeld who finished the game with 19 points, Dellon Brown on 17 and Sam Stafford with 16.
Still yet to drop a game, Mount Gambier will enjoy a weekend off before facing rivals Millicent Magic on the road for the final game of 2017.
