THE Mount Gambier Lakers will host a showdown tonight with the only other undefeated team in the Country Basketball League South West men’s competition, the Horsham Hornets.
The Lakers sit on top of the table – where they have resided all season – and lead the way with six wins from as many games.
That faultless record is something the second-placed Hornets will be out to change.
However, it will be no easy feat, with the Lakers fresh off the bye going into this weekend’s double-header round at the Icehouse.
The top-of-the-table clash will feature on Saturday night, before the Lakers take on the Warrnambool Seahawks on Sunday afternoon.
The Seahawks will pose no real threat to the in-form Lakers, with the side recording seven straight losses so far to sit in 10th place, ahead of only the Hamilton Hurricanes.
The Lakers faced the Warrnambool-based side back in Round 3 and claimed a 33-point win at The Arc.
This round the game will be on the Lakers’ home deck and it is likely a similar result will be the outcome.
Adam Lawson is the main threat in the Seahawks’ ranks and comes off the back of a 29-point game in a loss to the Bacchus Marsh Lions last round.
However, last time the Seahawks met the Lakers he was held to just 13 points, with an even contribution from the Lakers resulting in a comfortable win.
All eyes will be on Saturday’s game, with plenty to lose for both teams as they look to keep their undefeated status in tact.
But the Lakers are no stranger to dealing blows to the top teams, after a dominant 42-point win over the third-placed Bellarine Storm in its last match in Round 5.
The Storm also went into the encounter undefeated, but the Lakers put an end to that.
The game saw Lachie Hunter top score with a solid 33 points, while Matt Berkefeld and Kane de Wit were also up there with 22 each.
They will be out to fire again, with the likes of Braiden Ousey and Sam Stafford also bolstering the ranks.
The Lakers have shown plenty of depth this season, with inconsistencies in the lineup early on having little effect on results.
Now at the mid-point of the minor rounds the side has found a strong and reliable core and is sure to put on another show in front of a home crowd.
The Hornets come off the back of a 30-point win over the Ararat Redbacks and will look to the likes of Tim Pickert and Matt Lovel to perform again.
The two scored 20 points each last round and average 21.6 and 17 points a game respectively.
Jeremiah McKenzie had a quiet week against the Redbacks and will be out to boost his percentage, which sits at 18.25 from the four games he has hit the court.
However, with the depth of the Lakers’ outfit and the form it has shown so far in 2018-19, the home team should emerge from the weekend with an eight-win streak if all goes to plan.
Tomorrow night’s game will kick off at 7pm, while Sunday’s match is set for a 1pm start.
