MOUNT Gambier fell at the final hurdle in the Country Basketball League South West Conference, going down to Colac in the grand final on Saturday night.
The previously undefeated Lakers had to make the trip across the border to face the Kookas on their home court, with the final result seeing the home side claim the honours 88-73 in an entertaining match.
The experience of Matt Berkefeld almost brought the visitors across the line, with a game-high 29 points, but it was solid second half that turned the game in the Kookas’ favour, with the Lakers keeping pace for the first half and much of the third term.
Dellon Brown was up to his recent form early, draining a three-point basket to put the Lakers on the board after two-and-a-half minutes of play.
That was followed by a pair of twos from Sam Stafford and Mount Gambier looked on track.
Berkefeld found his first points through a pair of free throws, then Brown stepped up with another triple and the Lakers were six points clear.
However, the Kookas hit back and at the first break the Lakers held the advantage by just two points.
The second term continued much the same early, with scores tied up after two minutes of play.
But from there the Kookas went on a 12-0 run to stamp their authority on the game.
Not to be outdone, the Lakers responded with 10 straight points, with Stafford and Berkfeld finishing the run with a three and a two respectively to close the margin to just two pints once more.
As the quarter wound down Zach De Wit drained a triple to close to within three points, but Marko Vekic responded with the same for the Kookas to go to the break leading by six.
From there the Lakers struggled to close the margin, despite a couple of early third-quarter triples to Berkefeld to stay within five.
Kane De Wit popped up mid-way through the term with a three, but with a minute to play the margin had crept out to 10 points.
The Kookas continued to push and headed to the final stanza with a 15-point advantage.
A pair of threes to Berkefeld mid-way through the last quarter reduced the margin to seven points, but a time-out saw the Kookas regain their focus and go on with the game, claiming the win and ending the Lakers undefeated streak.
For the Lakers, Stafford joined Berkefeld in double figures with 17 points, as did Kane De Wit with 12.
