Basketball
4 November, 2024
Hornets sting twice
After a bye in round four, the Horsham Hornets returned to the courts in round five of the Country Basketball League and stung twice, with convincing wins over Millicent and Colac to move a game clear on top of the ladder.
On Saturday, at home against Millicent, Austin McKenzie and Micah Livingstone continued to show their chemistry, with 26 and 19 points, respectively.
The slow starts from earlier in the season are behind the Hornets, as they came out from the tip-off and took a 23-17 lead at quarter-time.
The match was won in the second quarter, with the Hornets scoring 22 to six to take a comprehensive 22-point lead into half-time.
With a big lead and playing the next day in Colac, they could utilise the bench more, and they stood up, extending that lead to 27 points at three-quarter-time.
In the last, the Hornets were relentless, adding another 23 points to 11 to run out 94-55 winners.
Mitch Martin remains at his best, scoring another 16 points and leading phenomenally on the court. Cody Bryan scored ten, and newcomer Charlie Campbell scored nine.
Of the 12 players, the Hornets played 11 scored points, showing the dominance of the win.
For Millicent, Harry Mules scored 19 points, with Jackson Bowden scoring 16.
The next day, the Hornets travelled to Colac, who defeated Hamilton 68-57 on Saturday. With both teams on the back-to-back and the Hornets without McKenzie, the first quarter was tight, with neither team giving an inch, ending 13-all at quarter-time.
The Hornets started to get the edge in the second quarter and slipped away to a four-point lead at the main break.
The Hornets continued their momentum in the third, with Colac fighting hard. They outscored them by five points to take a handy nine-point lead at three-quarter-time.
In the last quarter, the Hornets kept control of the game, running away with a 17-point win, 74-57.
Cody Bryan led the way on the scoreboard with 18 points, and Charlie Campbell scored 17, making use of an increased opportunity.
Cameron Primmer and Brady Hall led the way for Colac with 21 and 19, respectively.
Hornets coach Scott Benbow said the start on Saturday was important, and it helped them rest players in each quarter, mindful of the match the next day.
"We wanted to get a good start, and we were mindful as we lost to them in our first match this season, so we knew they were coming in with confidence," Benbow said.
"Bringing Aussie [McKenzie] and Micah [Livingstone] into the team makes us bigger, and we had our full strength side, and it showed.
"We played most of the starters until the last three minutes of each quarter, allowing them to rest and be a supporter off the bench and barrack for the kids.
"We didn't use Matty or Jono Lovel much, knowing that we would need them on Sunday as Aussie wasn't playing."
Livingstone is having a massive impact on games, and teams are starting to pay attention to him.
"He is building beautifully at the moment," Benbow said.
"We are bringing Micah off the bench and having Jake Hobbs start so he can take the sting out of the big fellas, which lets the heat come out of the game, and Micah is coming off the bench and capitalising on that.
"He started for us against Colac as we didn't have Aussie, and teams are starting to target him. He is getting the best defender, and it's good for us. It means Aussie or Cody won't get it, and teams can't guard all three."
Charlie Campbell got more court time, and he is making use of the opportunity.
"Charlie played a hell of a game, and he played a guard role," Benbow said.
"Micah started but got fouled out in the third quarter, and it was good to see Charlie use his opportunity."
Benbow also stated that Mitch Martin is having a stellar season as a leader, concluding that he has matured.
"Mitch's maturity has been amazing. Normally, he needs to score 18 or 20 points to feel he did something, but he is leading us well, contributing, and has matured as a basketball player and is a great leader."
In round six, Horsham hosts Hamilton on Saturday, with tip-off at 7:00 pm.
Ararat's streak comes to an end
Ararat lost to Warrnambool Seahawks by 13 points at the Ararat Fitness and Leisure Centre on Saturday night.
Coming into the game with two solid wins, the Redbacks started slow. The Seahawks scored 29 points in the first quarter to lead by 18 at quarter-time.
The Rats battled hard in the second and stemmed the flow, but the Seahawks extended the lead to 21 at halftime.
Despite the deficit, Ararat didn't give up and fought hard, reducing the lead to 18 at three-quarter-time.
In the last, the Redbacks came out strong and maintained that for the quarter but could only peg back another five points to lose 85-72.
Joshua Fiegert and Oliver Lindeblad scored 23 apiece for the Redbacks. Harry McGorm scored 23 for the Seahawks, and Riley Nicolson scored 22.
Ararat remains fourth on the ladder but has the bye in round six.