Basketball: Lakers finish minor season undefeated

IN a return to competition in the Country Basketball League after the Christmas break, the Mount Gambier Lakers completed their season minor rounds undefeated after a double road trip across the border into Victoria.

The Lakers faced second-placed Colac Kookas on Saturday, with a tight six-point win at the Bluewater Leisure Centre, before heading to the Terang Basketball Stadium on Sunday to face the Tornadoes, with a 10-point victory the result.

Mount Gambier Lakers 69 d Colac Kookas 63

IT was a team effort for the Lakers which pushed them over the line when they locked horns with the Kookas Saturday night.

Despite the eventual win, the Lakers were on the back foot for the first half of the match.

The Kookas scored well in the opening term to lead 24-19 and maintained that margin going into the long break.

However, with the hosts unable to shake off the determined Lakers, the guests slowly clawed their way to the lead.

A two-pointer from Jack Wirth leveled the scores at 36-all and from there the Lakers held off their opposition.

Another two-point shot from Kane deWit put them in front and they led the way for the remainder of the game.

It continued to be a close battle, with nine points the largest margin for the match.

Colac’s Jesse Burn recorded the highest score for the game, topping de Wit’s tally by a single point as he rounded out the night with 18.

However, with Jacob Pupavac (16) and Lewis Varley (14) the only other double-figure scorers, the consistent effort across the Lakers’ board saw them across the line.

Kane deWit led the way for his team, rounding out the match with 17 points, but was closely followed by Matthew Berkefeld on 14.

Dellon Brown and Zach deWit finished their night with 10 points each, while Sam Stafford fell just short of double figures on nine.

Mount Gambier Lakers 92 d Terang Tornadoes 82

THE Sunday afternoon match saw the Lakers secure another close-fought victory over the then third-placed Terang.

However, with Millicent Magic winning its clash against Portland, the Tornadoes have now dropped to fourth based on percentage.

The Lakers started well to score eight points before the Tornadoes could hit the board.

A three-point bomb from Brown opened the scoring, which was soon followed by a two-point shot from Zach deWit and another three-pointer from Kane deWit.

By the end of the first quarter the Tornadoes had narrowed the margin, but the Lakers held a narrow 21-20 lead.

The second term started with a two-pointer from Kane deWit, which was followed by a three-pointer from Terang’s Dean Brebner to level the score.

Lakers’ Brodie Jolley claimed back the lead with a two-point shot, but another three-point bomb from Brebner saw the Tornadoes in front once more.

This was short-lived, as Berkefeld put his side back on top with a two-pointer.

The remainder of the quarter became a game of tug-o-war, with both teams making claims to the lead and going into the long break, Terang led 43-41.

However, Brown stepped up with two three-pointers in the opening minutes of the second half, putting the Lakers back on the front foot.

From here the Lakers maintained their lead for the rest of the match, but it remained close until the end.

Kane deWit once again topped the scoreboard, this time with a game-high 23 points.

Sam Stafford was the next best scorer in the Lakers’ lineup, with 16 points to his name, followed by Zach deWit and Brown with 14 each.

Berkefeld rounded out the double-figures with 11.

The round marked the last games for the Lakers before the first semi final on February 3 at the Icehouse.

Going into finals undefeated, the Lakers will be hot favourites to claim the back-to-back title.