April 9: St Laurence Geelong Supercats 106 (N. Herbert 28, I. Muhammad 18, J. Bullock 17) defeated Sandringham Sabres 75 (T. Garlepp 21, S. Conn 16, N. Crosswell 12) at the Arena

April 10: St Laurence Geelong Supercats 89 (I. Muhammad 26, J. Bullock 21, B. Cox 14) defeated Ballarat Miners 78 (J. Scoines 22, D. Reed 16, T. Naqqash 16, J. Brown 14) at the Ballarat Minerdome

The St Laurence Geelong Supercats have recorded their best weekend so far of the 2010 Crazy John’s SEABL season as Nathan Herbert’s MVP performance in his welcome return to the club helped the team to a 31 point thumping of the well credentialed Sandringham Sabres on Friday night before a gutsy win from behind against the Ballarat Miners on Saturday night.

On Friday at the Arena the visitors scored the first basket of the night but then it was all Geelong as the Supercats went on a 19 to nil rampage with thanks to Herbert who hit ten of the 19 points including a couple of threes to signal his return. With Isma’il Muhammad and J’Nate Bullock also in good touch, the home side put on a show. The Sabres then staged a mini-fightback thanks to big man Thomas Garlepp as the visitors then stayed with Geelong for the rest of the term. The Supercats retained a handy 33 to 19 lead at the first break with Herbert having 15 first quarter points.

Bullock and Herbert scored successive three pointers to open the second quarter as the Supercats dished out more of the same and extended the lead to as many as 23 before settling to be a comfortable 17 ahead at the change of ends.

With Gold Coast Head Coach and former Supercat Joey Wright watching on from the stands, Muhammad, Bullock and Nick Owusu continued to pile on the points after the break and the 22 to 7 point run in the first half of the third quarter had the Supercats in cruise control with a mighty 32 point lead. Tempers frayed as Gerlapp and Muhammad had a little push and shove but this only served to fire up the good sized school holiday home crowd and frustrate Sandringham even more than they already were. An unsportsmanlike foul on Muhammad late in the quarter allowed Sandringham to get back slightly but Geelong maintained a 24 point lead at the last break.

In the final quarter, Muhammad gave up his last two fouls with 8 minutes to play to give the visitors a glimmer of hope but Jamie Medved’s return basket quickly snuffed out any thought of victory. The Supercats were relentless up until four and a half minutes to play when Coach Jamie O’Loughlin substituted guard Ben Suchanek in for his first ever SEABL action. Matt Hardiman and Keith Harrison followed soon after as both sides went to their benches to save their stars for games the following night.

The Supercats bench acquitted themselves well as captain Braith Cox piled on the points to lead the team out to a 30 point lead. Harrison’s 3 pointer with 15 seconds to play gave the Supercats the win 106 to 75.

Nathan Herbert, who re-signed with Adelaide 36ers on Wednesday for the 10/11 NBL season, led all scorers with 28 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists. Muhammad, in his three and a bit quarters had 18 points, 7 rebounds and 7 assists. Bullock had another good game with 17 points while Cox finished with 14. Garlepp was the best for the visitors with 21 points.

The Supercats travelled to Ballarat on Saturday to take on the Miners and by contrast had a poor first quarter. Herbert was well held down and did not score in the term while Bullock had the best of the slim scoring with just 4 points. The Miners, led by former Supercat Jamal Brown and Tariq Naqqash helped the Miners to a 26 to 13 point first quarter lead.

Herbert, Cox, Medved, Bullock and Muhammad went on a shooting spree at the start of the second. The 15 to 4 point run helped the Supercats get back within 2 points but Ballarat pulled away to a ten point lead again helped by a 3 pointer from Brown. The Supercats reeled them in again however going on a 10-nil run as Medved’s three put the Supercats ahead by a point for the first time. Drake Reed’s 3 for the home side helped them take the lead back and they went in a half time Geelong 41, Ballarat 45.

Miners’ Guard Jared Scoines began to make his presence felt in the third quarter. The young guard scored some clutch baskets, including some vital 3’s, which kept Ballarat in the contest. But both Bullock and Muhammad scored well for the Supercats and the quarter went basket for basket and the Miners retained their 4 point margin at the last break thanks to a Daniel Joyce 3 on the buzzer for the Miners.

The close last quarter was highlighted by 6 lead changes before it was Geelong who got away for an 8 point lead. Ballarat fought on but Braith Cox’s 2 three pointers against his old side sealed an eleven point win for the Supercats 89 to 78.

Muhammad’s 23 second half points saw him finish the game with 26 points 11 rebounds and 6 assists. Bullock finished with 21 points and 8 rebounds while Cox’s 8 points in the last quarter saw him finish with 14. Scoines was the best of the Miners with 22.

The Supercats have another tricky double header next weekend as they host North West Tasmania Thunder at the Arena on Saturday night at 7:30 before travelling to Nunawading next Sunday afternoon to play the Spectres.

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