By Jarrod Potter
BIG V – ROUND 14
THEY will take the win, but there’s plenty to improve on for the Keysborough Cougars after a 75-61 BIG V triumph over Pakenham.
After opening strongly – hitting 47 by the main break – Keysborough applied the brakes as it couldn’t contain the Warriors’ output.
While the rebound count remained promising, the Cougars were outworked through the second half by the winless, but extremely dogged, Warriors.
Billie Lucas (26 points, 14 rebounds) got the job done at the free-throw line but will rue a 6/26 shooting effort for the night and the return across the board for the other Cougars was no better as only Keira Lee (nine points) and Ashleigh Wright (eight points) threatened to breach double digits.
Despite clawing their way back into the match, reducing the margin to 10 through the third term, Pakenham’s young guards couldn’t muscle past the Cougars when it was needed most.
Keysborough coach Craig Smethurst was pleased to take the points but thought the Cougars lacked resolve and they’ll need to work harder if they want to beat better teams.
“It’s been an up-and-down season and I think that game probably showed it, where we’re probably relying on talent a bit rather than hard work,” Smethurst said. “Full credit to Pakky, they’ve had a tough year but definitely outworked us in the end.
“I think it was talent that got us over the line, which is definitely not what we want to rely on, and that’s what has cost us a number of games this year.”
Keysborough women improve their record to 5-7 and head down to the road to face arch-rivals Casey on Saturday night from 8pm.
The Cougars’ men also took the points in a 59-57 nail-biter over their own heated conflict against Craigieburn. After the 2012 BIG V grand final series, taken by Craigieburn, the sidesFacing former Keysy point guard Eric Miraflores, Keysborough managed to contain the Filipino livewire and fire back with starring efforts from Ben Morwood (14 points) and Malcolm Heard (10 points, 11 rebounds). The Cougars’ men host Collingwood on Saturday night from 8pm.
SEABL
Pipped in a potential championship preview, Dandenong didn’t have the firepower to get the job done down in Tasmania.
With many predicting the Tornadoes versus Rangers to be a strong indication for the SEABL championship, the Rangers were edged out by the home side’s long-range game.
Launceston drilled 11 threes to Dandenong’s four, which proved the difference in the 69-77 loss.
