Trevor Jackson
THE Mount Gambier Lakers men will look to atone for a mid-season loss to Horsham Hornets when the two sides face off in Round 15 of the 2022-23 Country Basketball League season.
It will be the last weekend for the Lakers in the minor rounds, with a double-header pencilled in.
The Lakers will travel to Horsham on Saturday, before hosting the Portland Coasters on Sunday.
While a playoff position is guaranteed, the top-placed Lakers will look at a home final, with the second-placed Ararat Redbacks hosting Millicent, a game they should win.
With little to separate the two sides at the pointy end, it will be up to the Lakers to decide their fate.
After losing to the Hornets back in Round 9, the Lakers would surely want to rectify that blemish somewhat.
In that game Mount Gambier was in the box seat, but a strong charge down the stretch by the Hornets saw a two-point victory by the visitors at the Icehouse.
This time the Hornets have the home-court advantage, but this close to playoffs, and with a score to settle, the Lakers will be a different beast and should claim the win to kick their weekend off on the right foot.
Portland will then struggle to contain the Lakers at the Icehouse on Sunday, although the Coasters cannot be taken lightly.
While the Lakers comfortably accounted for them back in Round 2, the Coasters will also not want to leave anything to chance.
If they can pick up two wins this weekend, a playoff position will be guaranteed, further adding to the intensity on Sunday.
In the end it is a double-header weekend the Lakers should win and remain at the pointy end of the ladder, with a bye the following week to prepare for a playoff tilt.
