By DAVID NAGEL
A HUGE sigh of relief went through the Springers Leisure Centre on Saturday night after Keysborough Cougars kept its Big V Division 2 finals hopes alive with a thrilling 71-69 win over Coburg Giants.
Scores were locked at the end of the third quarter in a match where turnovers and missed attempts were the dominant stats.
After four lead changes, scores remained tied in the last until a huge three-pointer from sharp-shooter Johnny Constance gave the Cougars the edge.
The game started at a frenetic pace with 59 points scored in a high quality opening.
The Cougars shot the lights out, going at 55 percent from the field, including three that went swish from the perimeter.
They took a nine-point lead into the first break.
From there, both defences got on top leading to a 62-point gridlock at the final break.
The Cougars only scored nine points in the last quarter but with Kevin Benn (22 points and 14 rebounds), Alistair Granger (13 points and 4 rebounds) and Tim Brook (8 points and 11 rebounds) putting in magnificent defensive efforts, kept the Giants to seven, for a stirring and very important victory.
The Cougars now sit in fifth place on the table but with games against fourth-placed Mornington and second-placed Pakenham to round out their season, will have their work cut-out if they’re to make the play-offs.
This week’s game against the Breakers tips off at 8pm on Saturday night at the Mornington Basketball Stadium.
