Basketball
4 November, 2025
Hornets deliver home opener excitement
The men’s Horsham Hornets Country Basketball League team backed up Saturday night’s victory over Colac with an emphatic 98-72 win over Hamilton in the side’s first home game of the 2025 season on Sunday.
Having unveiled the team’s 2024 championship banner before the game, Judd Wright capped off a dominant weekend for the team, dunking an alley-oop pass from Jeremy Williamson in the final minute to invigorate the Horsham Basketball Stadium crowd.
After a tight opening quarter between the two sides, the Hornets’ fast-paced offence and disruptive defence were on display in the second quarter as they raced to a 44-25 halftime lead over Hamilton.
The Hornets held a 20-point lead for the majority of the second half and eventually defeated the Hurricanes by 26 points.
Micah Livingstone scored 25 points for the home side, with Tarkyn Benbow and Mitch Martin each adding 14 points, as seven players scored eight or more points.
Horsham Hornets coach Scott Benbow was happy with the side’s win, believing the team continue to build on each game.
“We’re happy that we're starting to gel as a team now,” Benbow said.
“It was a great team effort.
“We didn't rely on one person, which is good, and it's going to make us a lot harder to play against because I know when you scout a side, you're looking at the top two scorers.
“When you're looking at the guys who have got similar points, it is a bit of a pick your poison situation.”
Benbow was overjoyed to produce a win in front of an electric home crowd, acknowledging the significance of the occasion to several players.
“I’m just happy to actually get a win at home, and the atmosphere was unreal,” Benbow said.
“The dunk at the end from Judd was very exciting, and to hear the noise from that, it doesn’t get much better.
“And a lot of guys played their first home game.
“For example, this is Jeremy Williamson’s first game in a Hornets uniform in front of a crowd like that, and even Tim McCormick, our assistant coach.
“It’s special and they will always remember it.”
“Young Fletcher Dandy, being an honourary Hornet for the day, he got a real buzz out of it.”
On Saturday evening, the side produced a crucial 98-79 away victory over Colac.
A strong second quarter helped the Hornets get a 50-35 lead at halftime.
Despite Colac cutting the lead to six points late in the third quarter, the Hornets demonstrated their championship pedigree, extending their lead throughout the fourth quarter to defeat the Kookas by 19 points.
Livingstone dominated with 35 points, while Levi Munyard registered 18 points in the victory.
Benbow was pleased with how the team carried out their game plan in the victory.
“Colac are dangerous down there because they were sitting fourth going into it,” Benbow said.
“They won their first three games, so we knew it was going to be hard.
“We had a plan to go and beat them with pace because it's going to be our identity this year, and we executed it very well.
“We're very hard to stop when we get up the floor.
“When you play with pace, it’s very, very hard to control or contain, so it needs to be our identity."
The impressive round five results leave the Hornets with a 3-2 record and secure their spot in the all-important top four with three rounds remaining.