June 14: St Laurence Geelong Supercats 120 (N. Herbert 30, B. Bridgewater 28, D. George 16) defeated Frankston Blues 99 (A. Harms 31, D. Gruber 21, R. Kampman 19) at the Geelong Arena.

The St Laurence Geelong Supercats have defeated their arch rivals for this year’s SEABL conference title Frankston and in the process taken top spot on the ladder from them. Perhaps most importantly, the Supercats now hold the head to head advantage over the Blues with Saturday night’s 21 point victory eclipsing the loss in Frankston by 12 points earlier in the year. Should the two sides finish on equal win loss records at the end of the year, a distinct possibility, then the minor premiership and home court advantage in the finals will go to Geelong on the aggregate result.

Geelong were systematic and ruthless in their drive to win on Saturday. Blues import and recent NBL West Sydney signing, David Gruber, opened the scoring for the visitors with a three point play as Daniel George was called for a foul as Gruber laid up the 2 pointer. A follow up three by Frankston’s other import Rob Kampman had Geelong on the back foot early on. Successive threes from Nathan Herbert and Jarrod Leonard steadied the ship, however and Geelong then took control.

It was clear from the outset that Frankston wanted to get a lead early hoping to take the sell out Arena crowd out of the contest. Herbert had other ideas, however and scored ten of Geelong’s first 16 points. With the Supercats scoring 26 to 22 in the first 8 minutes of play, they clicked into overdrive for the remainder of the first quarter with Leonard bombing another three and Brad Bridgewater scoring three mighty dunks which had the crowd on their feet and the home side ahead 43 to 26 at the first break.

Herbert’s run continued in the second, piling on 23 first half points. Bridgewater was enjoying a night out and had 16 of his own. Jamie Medved ventured onto the court to test his shoulder after a 14 game absence and looked like he had never been away. With Daniel George and Nick Owusu doing the defensive work and containing Frankston’s Kampman, it was Andrew Harm’s 12 points for the visitors in the first half that kept them in the contest. Geelong went in at the half with a comfortable 21 point lead.

Harms and Gruber combined in the third to help Frankston to 31 points for the term to peg back the lead by 4 at 3 quarter time. With the game safely in Geelong’s control, the interest was whether Geelong would maintain at least a 13 point buffer and the head to head aggregate over their rivals. Frankston had the margin back to 14 in the last a couple of times but Bridgewater, Herbert, George, Braith Cox and Owusu kept coming up with winning plays and helped Geelong record a 21 point victory 120 to 99.

Herbert was the top scorer for the Supercats with 30 points and he was ably assisted by game MVP Bridgewater with 28 points as both players also had 11 rebounds. Daniel George was his usual consistent self with 16 points and 15 rebounds. Harms led all scorers with 31 points for the Blues.

The Supercats travel across to Tasmania next weekend for their last double header of the season against Hobart on Friday night and North West Tasmania on Saturday. Geelong will return home to the Arena and play the Australian Institute of Sport on Friday June 27th.