MOUNT Gambier basketball fans will be treated to two days of quality competition this weekend, when both the Lakers men and women take to the Icehouse for double-header rounds of the Country Basketball League season.
Hosting Geelong United tomorrow night, Sunday afternoon will then see a clash with the Horsham Hornets, in a draw that looks to throw up some thrilling contests for both teams.
The round-seven matches will have extra intrigue for the men, as all three teams are currently undefeated for 2019-20.
While the Lakers have had a disrupted start to the season and have only played three games – opposed to the six wins from both Geelong and Horsham – based on results it appears the trio will be the sides to beat this year.
Mount Gambier coach Matt Berkefeld said the Lakers should be close to full strength for both encounters.
That is a daunting prospect for any opposing team, as the Lakers have not played a full roster this season, but their closest margin was a 32-point triumph over Ararat in round four.
“We think these will be the top two teams so it will be a good challenge,” Berkefeld said.
“Not only that, they play two really different styles as well.
“Geelong has always been a really up-tempo aggressive team and have a lot of good, young players.
“Horsham is probably the most experienced team in the league and has some guys who have been really good for a long period of time.”
Horsham in particular will provide a roadblock for the Lakers’ undefeated status, as the two sides have had some tight meetings in the past.
“They have been good for a long period of time and looking at their results they have been flying this year as well,” Berkefeld said.
“They have some experienced players, but I think they also have some young kids coming through who have been playing well too.
“That is going to be a really good game.”
The Hornets will have a bee in their bonnet after they finished minor premiers in 2018-19, but missed out on a grand final clash against the Lakers due to a semi-final upset.
It points towards a heated clash, but the Lakers should be up to the challenge.
Simon Berkefeld has shown his usual class around he court in all three outings this year, averaging a healthy 25 points a game.
He is joined by a long list of capable scorers, with Kyle Tipene also in form, while
Mitchell Hunter and Kurt Rodis bolster the firepower.
Jak Ryan was influential back in round two and he is expected to return on the weekend after two rounds of unavailability.
Throw in the likes of Sam Stafford and Jordan Hollitt, as well as Lachie Hunter – who comes off a 26-point performance heading into his second match for the season – and the Lakers have plenty of options.
“We have Braiden Ousey to return in a couple of weeks, but once he comes back we will be pretty close to full strength,” Matt Berkefeld said.
“At this stage it looks like everyone else is going to be available this week.”
If that is so, Berkefeld will be left with a difficult decision regarding his starting five.
“Everybody who has played for us could in theory start for a lot of teams, so it does make my job a bit difficult, but it is a good problem to have,” he said.
Berkefeld said everything has come together well so far this season, with the familiarity between players a key to a successful team.
“A lot of the guys have played together over the last few years,” he said.
“That part of it makes it easier for me and then the new guys who have come in have fit in pretty seamlessly as well.
“There are no real complaints from a coaching view at this stage.”
All appears set for two days of high-calibre basketball, making the Icehouse the place to be for Mount Gambier fans this weekend.
Tomorrow night’s match will follow the women’s game with tip off at 8pm, while the men return to the court on Sunday at 2pm.
