James Murphy
HORSHAM HORNETS 55 d MOUNT GAMBIER LAKERS 52
IT was a weekend of almosts for the Mount Gambier Lakers with the women going down by three points to the Horsham Hornets in Round 9 of Country Basketball.
The Lakers hosted the Hornets at the Icehouse on Sunday, with the latter having lost to Millicent the night before to start their double-header round.
Mount Gambier entered the clash as favourite, but with a few missing players and the physicality of the Horsham side, the Lakers were unable to hold them back.
An even first quarter saw 13 points at both ends, before the arm wrestle continued in the second term.
Just 15 points were scored during that period, with the Hornets edging out to a three-point lead.
They used some brute force and high intensity to keep the pressure on the Lakers, which caught them off guard.
While Sarah Ritter worked hard under the hoop and the outside support from Sophie Miles and Keryl Ousey was solid, the absence of Wormald sisters Olivia and Maddy and their experience was felt on the court.
A 19-15 point third term pushed Horsham’s lead out further heading into three-quarter time.
Mount Gambier won the fourth 18-14, but the damage was too great and the Lakers could not push across the line.
Ritter top scored for the home team with 16 points, but the next best score came from Miles with nine.
Meanwhile Emalie Iredell and Caitlin Story topped the sheets for the Hornets with 15 each and Olivia Jones also breached double figures with 11.
The Lakers have a bye this week, which will give a chance to regroup before a big rematch with Millicent Magic to kick off a double-header Round 11.
