Mount Gambier secures back-to-back CBL South East conference titles

Grand Final Pic 1  TBW Newsgroup
BACK-TO-BACK: Mount Gambier Lakers men claimed a dramatic Country Basketball League grand final victory over Geelong United on Saturday night at Portland.

Grand Final Pic 1  TBW Newsgroup
BACK-TO-BACK: Mount Gambier Lakers men claimed a dramatic Country Basketball League grand final victory over Geelong United on Saturday night at Portland.

THE Mount Gambier Lakers returned from Portland victorious, after they claimed back-to-back Country Basketball League South West conference championships on Saturday night.

The Lakers defeated Geelong United at the Lighthouse in dramatic fashion, after both sides had dropped just one game for the season before the championship playoff.

It lived up to the hype, with the game coming down to a final-quarter shootout in an epic encounter.

Scores were tied with just minutes remaining, but it was the Lakers who stood up and closed the game out for an emphatic 11-point victory.

Mount Gambier was helped along by a game-high 30-point haul from Simon Berkefeld, which was complemented by 24 from Kyle Tipene.

But in an unusual scenario they were the only two Lakers to reach double figures, while not one three-point shot was recorded – a rarity for the side.

However, an even spread of scorers, along with an energetic defensive game was enough to give the Lakers the desired result.

Mount Gambier was on the back foot early, with United in front mid-way through the opening term.

However, a two-point basket from Braiden Ousey put the Lakers in the lead with five minutes to play in the quarter, then Tipene, Lachie Hunter, Sam Stafford and Berkefeld finished the quarter off, with a 17-6 lead at the first break.

It looked ominous for United when Kurt Rodis opened the second-quarter with a two-point basket.

Jak Ryan and Berkefeld added to the scoresheets to hold off a determined Geelong, but after four minutes of play the margin was back to just five points.

Berkefeld began to find his range and a late two-point basket saw the Lakers go to the long break with a handy 11-point buffer.

Geelong was always going to push hard after the break, but the Lakers responded equally and extended the margin.

Stafford completed a three-point play off a foul on his way to the basket, while Ousey was again on target.

With two minutes to play in the term the margin had been reduced to just three points, with United’s top scorer Max Kos looking dangerous.

However, some undisciplined play by Cohen Blythe resulted in four straight free throws to Berkefeld, who did not let the side down as he iced all attempts.

Blythe then sent Mitch Hunter to the line for two successful free throws and the Lakers closed the quarter out to go to the final break with a 15-point advantage.

It appeared Mount Gambier had done enough to break the back of the Geelong attack, but United had different ideas.

With six minutes to play back-to-back threes from Kos and Marko Vekic saw the game tied up at 67 points a-piece.

The Lakers called a time out and after the break Ousey and Stafford responded.

Vekic hit another three-point bomb to keep United in the game, before Tipene added a two for a three-point lead to the Lakers.

The game went basket for basket, with the Lakers edging ahead until Tipene eventually stretched the margin to 11 points off a pair of free throws with a minute to play and the game was done.

For his efforts Berkefeld was voted MVP for the final.

For coach Matt Berkefeld it was a proud moment in his first year coaching the team.

“I am certainly pleased with the result,” he said.

“But we did it the hard way.

“We had the game in a commanding position early in the last quarter then lost the lead.

“But we held our nerve and were able to close the game out in the end.”

Berkefeld said neither team played to their full potential, with the pressure from both sides a deciding factor.

“I found the result to be a great sign,” he said.

“As much as we struggled to score, we were still able to pull out the win.

“That is a testament to the guys who played well defensively and rebounded the ball well.

“We found a way to get it done.”

Berkefeld said players such as Jordan Hollitt were important at the defensive end of the floor, especially late in the game, while the likes of Jak Ryan and Mitch Hunter were able to stand up when Lachie Hunter was in foul trouble on the bench.

After such a strong season it was the ultimate test for the Lakers, which Berkefeld said showed the desire of the group.

“It was not the prettiest way to do it, but if you win a grand final, we do not really care how we do it,” he said.

“It made the win more special knowing we were really tested and were able to come out on top.

“Our form this season almost hurt us in the end – it was a situation we had not really found ourselves in for a long time.

“It did take us a while to adjust to the pressure, but I was proud of the way we played in the last five minutes.

“When scores were level we were the team that was able to calm the nerves and get the job done.”