CBL: Lakers counter Millicent’s magic

ON THE ROAD: The Mount Gambier Lakers will take to the road tomorrow for their Round 5 meeting with the Ararat RedBacks, where Matthew Berkefeld will be out to play another solid game for his team. Picture: JAMES MURPHY
HEAD-TO-HEAD: Millicent’s William Fleming and Mount Gambier’s Dellon Brown go head-to-head during the Lakers win over the Magic in Saturday’s Country Basketball League match at Millicent. Picture: TANIA MILLARD

IT came down to a clutch shot by Matt Berkefeld for Mount Gambier Lakers to claim the honours over Millicent Magic in Saturday’s Country Basketball League clash.

A final hectic minute of play saw Will Fleming with a successful two-point jumper to claim the lead for the Magic by two points with just seven seconds on the clock, but a buzzer-beater from Berkefeld was enough to seal the win in an exciting finish.

The two Limestone Coast rivals have tasted vastly different results this season, but with limited numbers available for the clash, the Lakers were up against it from the outset.

With both Kane and Zach De Wit missing from the lineup, Dellon Brown and Luke Black stepped up, with 20 and 18 points respectively for the victors.

But for Millicent, Jordan Robertson was also missing, leaving the bulk of the scoring up to Will Fleming, who finished with a game-high 26 points.

The game began basket-for-basket, with Sam Stafford getting the Lakers off to a start, before Aidan Schultz responded for the Magic.

Fleming and Schultz then went back-to-back, with Ryan Meakin interrupting the flow for the Lakers.

But the Magic then added nine unanswered points to hold a 15-4 lead mid-way through the term.

A three-point bomb to Brown kept the Lakers in touch, but the carnage continued, with Millicent going on a 6-0 run to again stretch the margin.

A late three to Meakin saw the damage reduced to 11 points at the first break, with the home side in the box seat.

Twos to Brown and Stafford after the break swung the momentum, but Kade Bradley stepped in with a three for the Magic to remain in control.

But from there the Lakers hit their range, with a 12-0 run to claim the lead with a minute to play in the term.

Bradley added a two soon after and scores were locked up at the long break.

The third term saw a real arm wrestle unfold, with neither side able to make a decisive break.

Mid-way through the quarter the Magic had skipped out to a five-point lead, but the Lakers returned serve and a big three from Brown saw the advantage once more with the visitors.

By the final break the margin was three points in favour of the Lakers and the epic final stanza began.

A three to Jack Wirth and a two to Black threatened to open the game up for the Lakers, with an eight-point advantage.

But free throws to James Fleming then a two to Will Fleming eroded the margin to four points.

Will Fleming then closed the margin further off a three-point play, with a successful basket and a free throw.

Black, Fleming and Berkefeld went basket-for-basket, before Callan Hobbs drained a three to see the Magic just one point in arrears with a time out called.

With just four minutes remaining the pressure was on, with Brown up to the challenge with a two-point jumper.

Not to be outdone, Hobbs responded, with back-to-back twos to regain the lead for the Magic with just a minute to play.

Black then drained a three for the Lakers with 20 seconds remaining, with Fleming’s shot to equal the scores to follow.

From there it was a cool head from Berkefeld that won the game with a 58-56 results.

The result saw the Lakers remain at the top of the ladder, while Millicent dropped down to fourth behind the Terang Tornadoes.