Trevor Jackson
THE Millicent Magic women are set to continue as they left off in the Country Basketball League season this weekend.
The competition resumes after the Christmas-New Year break and the magic travels across the border to face the Warrnambool Mermaids.
Millicent is involved in a battle for top spot with Mount Gambier, while the Mermaids sit just back in third place.
The Mermaids have played two less games than the Magic and will need a win to keep their position ahead of the Horsham Hornets, so will throw everything at the contest on their home court.
However, last time the two sides met Millicent was victorious by eight points with a somewhat depleted roster.
Should the Magic take close to a full roster they should have the firepower to claim the contest, but coach Damian Venn will not be taking anything for granted.
“You can’t go into any of these games thinking you will win,” he said.
“Last time we were up by a bit for most of the game and they came back late.
“You have to have the right mindset to get the win.”
That was evident in the last clash between the two sides, but Millicent was short-staffed in that one.
“Warrnambool wasn’t easy last time,” Venn said.
“We did have a few missing then, but we were up for most of the game and they came back in that last quarter.
“We will go in quietly confident, but you never know.”
Alana Berkefeld has been nursing an ankle since the last game against Horsham, but Venn said she should be fine now.
“She did her ankle before Christmas but she should be right now,” Venn said.
“It didn’t look good in Horsham, but she is a tough cookie.
“She actually said that night if it was a grand final she would have strapped it up and played.
Jasmin Howe will be out, as she is still holidaying in the USA, but Venn is still confident of a strong roster, at least for this weekend.
“We have Emily (Winter) and Jess (Venn) coming from Adelaide,” Venn said.
“Jasmin will be a bit hit and miss for the rest of the season, and Poppy (Venn) and Edie (Easterby) are in state teams with training commitments in Albury.
“They will be right for this weekend, but it is getting a bit tricky.
“I don’t have huge numbers on the bench to draw from and you can’t relax, you have to work hard for your wins.
“Warrnambool has some big bodies but we are confident we can get the win.”
