April 17: St Laurence Geelong Supercats 111 (I. Muhammad 25, J. Medved 21, B. Cox 20) defeated North West Tasmania Thunder 89 (S. Gary 29, M. Martin 28, J. Dowdell 20) at the Arena

April 18: St Laurence Geelong Supercats 105 (J. Bullock 28, B. Cox 27, N. Herbert 25) defeated Nunawading Spectres 90 (S. McDonald 26, M. Hall 19, M. Thorp 18) in Overtime at the Nunawading Basketball Stadium.

“This playing group has the resolve to win in any situation” were the prophetic words of St. Laurence Geelong Supercats head coach Jamie O’Loughlin after the teams inspirational victory in overtime against Nunawading on Sunday afternoon to extend their winning streak to five games. This followed the club’s victory over North West Tasmania in an exciting and sometimes spiteful contest at the Arena on Saturday night.

With Daniel George a late withdrawal for the Supercats with a neck complaint and Jeff Dowdell added to the Thunder line up, Geelong started Saturday’s contest the smaller side. The teams went basket for basket for the first eight and a half minutes before Nathan Herbert’ basket, Seb Loader’s steal leading to Jamie Medved’s basket and a 3 point play by J’Nathan Bullock with 20 seconds on the clock opened up an 8 point lead at the first break for the home side.

Dowdell’s unsportsmanlike foul on Seb Loader earlier in the second period, as the Geelong veteran asserted his authority over the NBL big man, set the tone for the rest of the night as no quarter was asked or given by either side. The Supercats opened up the lead to double figures before Nick Owusu’s crude attempt to block Thunder import guard Shawntes Gary earned him an unsportsmanlike foul also. Medved and Captain Braith Cox kept the scoreboard ticking over for Geelong whist Gary and fellow import Michael Martin were the scoring options for the visitors. Herbert and Nick Owusu each scored a three pointer in the last couple of minutes of the half to have the Supercats in control 60 to 42 at the half.

Isma’il Muhammad owned the third quarter for the Supercats from his reverse jam off an Owusu assist in the first 30 seconds to his put back reverse layup off an offensive board at the end of the term. Isma’il had 12 points in the Supercats tally of 28 for the quarter as Dowdell contributed for the visitors to claw the lead back by 1 point by the final break.

Medved’s recent good form continues as he thrives under the extra responsibility given to him this year as he scored his fourth three pointer of the night to open the final quarter. Geelong’s solid defence and multiple scoring options helped them extend their lead to as many as 27 points before head coach Jamie O’Loughlin had seen enough and took his starters out to save them for Sunday afternoon’s Nunawading game. A rally by the Thunder saw them halve the lead to 14 points before Herbert and Bullock came back on to steady the ship. With the game under control it was show time for Muhammad and the Supercats ran away to a comfortable 22 point win 111 to 89.

Muhammad was top scorer for the Supercats with 25 points, 11 rebounds and 4 assists while Medved came off the bench for a solid 21 points at 73% shooting. Cox also drained four three pointers in his 20 points along with 5 assists whilst Bullock had 19 points and 13 rebounds.  Gary led the scoring for the visitors with 29 while fellow import Martin hit 8 of 13 three pointers to finish with 28 points.

If Saturday night’s game was the battle, then Sunday was the war as a flat looking Supercats side started the game slowly. The Supercats stayed with Nunawading for the early going before Shane McDonald and Michael Thorp led the Spectres on a 10 to nil run to set up a 33 to 20 lead at quarter time.

J’Nathan Bullock fought inside to keep the Supercats within touch in the second quarter then Medved’s 3 put the Supercats back to a single figure deficit. Nathan Herbert and Nick Owusu maintained the defensive pressure as Herbert teamed with Cox and Muhammad to chip away at the lead. By half time the Supercats were just four points down 46 to 42 after holding the Spectres to just 13 points for the quarter.

The solid defence continued for both sides in the third. Geelong did not score for the first two and a half minutes allowing Nunawading to slip back out to a 12 point lead but Cox’s 2 pointer and a pair of threes from Bullock bought the margin back under control with the home side holding a slender 2 point lead at the last break.

In the final quarter the Supercats of 2010 came of age. Nunawading built their lead back out to nine points and it did not look promising for the visitors with two and half to play before O’Loughlin called a time out. The instructions were to foul to regain possession which had an immediate effect as Cox hit his foul shots and Herbert and Bullock each scored a basket. Cox’s three pointer with 76 seconds on the clock put the Supercats back within 3 points and now it was the Spectres turn to foul. Bullock and Herbert made no mistakes as the Supercats levelled the scores with 20 seconds of regular time to go and the teams finished locked together at 82 points at the end of the fourth.

An Inspired Supercats blasted away with ten unanswered points in the first 2 minutes of the overtime including threes from Cox and Herbert. With Spectres guard Gerard Leonard fouling out of the game the Supercats just had to run the clock down for the last three minutes. Muhammad and Herbert kept up the scoreboard pressure and the Supercats ran out with the victory 105 to 90 after scoring 23 points to 8 in the OT.

J’Nathan Bullock scored 28 for the Supercats while Cox put in a real Captain’s performance with 27 and Herbert had 25. Muhammad put himself in line for Player of the week honours again with 17 points, a massive 19 rebounds, 5 blocks and 3 assists. McDonald had 26 for Nunawading.

The Supercats must now back up in five days to play in Mount Gambier next Friday night.

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