Trevor Jackson
IN a result which went down to the wire, Mount Gambier Lakers emerged victors over cross-town rivals Millicent on Friday night at the Icehouse.
The Round 8 Country Basketball League clash was certainly billed as the match of the round, with the two top sides facing off for the “local” honour along with a possible top position on the ladder.
The Lakers men were undefeated heading into the match, while the Magic had just the one blemish to their name.
Mount Gambier started as favourite due to the home-court advantage, but once the game tipped off, it was anyone’s guess who would emerge victorious.
The Magic began well and started to apply scoreboard pressure early, with the game going basically basket-for-basket for the entire term.
Jackson Bowden was in his usual good form and helped along by Frazer and Kade Breadley, looked dangerous in the attacking zone.
When either side would open a small margin, the other would close it down and by the first break Millicent held sway by a margin of two points.
Mount Gambier appeared to find an extra gear early in the second term but again could not create too much of a margin.
Coach Kane deWit, along with Toby deWit, provided plenty of drive to the basket, with Simon Berkefeld providing some spark around the key.
By the long break the margin had turned in the Lakers’ favour, but by a margin of just four points.
Everything was set for a solid final half and it did not disappoint, as the two sides fought it out in a high-intensity contest.
As the clock wound down the Lakers were not about to give up their tentative hold on the game and as the final buzzer sounded, Mount Gambier was home with a scoreline of 104-97.
Kane deWit was in devastating form for the victors, with a team-high 35 points.
However, it was Frazer Bradley who stole the show, with a scintillating game-high 44 points for the Magic, unfortunately in a losing side.
Back to the Lakers and Berkefeld contributed 24 points, Toby deWit 17 and Duncan Reid rounded out the double-figure scorers with 13.
for Millicent, Bradley was joined in double figures by Bowden (20), Jack Haggett (13) and Josh Murphy (10).
