THE Mount Gambier Lakers still remain in second place on the Country Basketball League South West conference ladder, despite a big win on the weekend.
The Round 10 clash saw the Lakers travel to Hamilton to face the Hurricanes and were far too strong, claiming the win 98-52.
Just one Hurricane reached double figures, while four of the eight Lakers who headed across the border reached that milestone.
Hamilton started off well, after Lachie Hunter found the first points of the night for the Lakers.
Mid-way through the opening stanza they held a tentative three-point lead, but from there the Lakers began to hit their straps.
Back-to-back baskets from Hunter saw the Lakers sneak ahead, with Braiden Ousey finding his first score of the night, on the way to a game-high 25-point haul.
Kane de Wit drained a three late in the term, but Hamilton hit back and went to the break seven points down.
The Lakers then banged on six points before the Hurricanes could respond, then followed that up with another run.
This time they added 12 straight points, with Sam Stafford, Ousey, Kurt Rodis and Mitch Hunter all finding the basket.
By the long break the margin had crept out to 22 points and the Lakers looked home.
The dominance then began to hit home, with the Lakers out by 34 points mid-way through the third term.
Lachie Hunter was well on his way to another impressive haul, while Ousey continued to find the hoop.
By the final break there was little hope for the home side and the Lakers simply kept the foot on the throttle.
As the final siren sounded the Lakers headed to a holiday break with yet another solid victory.
Ousey’s 25 points was complemented by Lachie Hunter’s 21, with de Wit (18) and Stafford (15) also in double figures.
At this stage of the season the Lakers have lost just one game, against the Horsham Hornets by four points.
Mount Gambier duly accounted for Horsham just a couple of rounds later to the tune of 20 points.
With 10 rounds completed and just three remaining in the minor rounds, no other club has come within 10 points of the Lakers.
That was Geelong Supercats back in Round 1.
Round 8 saw a draw, after rain leaked through the Ichouse roof, which in effect dropped the Lakers down a spot on the ladder.
Of the three games remaining, only one is against a top side – Bacchus Marsh Lions in the final round.
The Lakers are yet to come up against the Lions and will face them on the road.
In a season which as shown much dominance without a settled roster, the Lakers would be one of the hot favourites to take home the title in the 2018-19 season.
However, with a tight top half of the ladder, nothing is set in stone and the side will certainly need to be on the front foot as the season winds down.
Their next match Lakers will be at the Ichouse on January 6, where they host the Portland Coasters.
