May 1: St Laurence Geelong Supercats 102 (I. Muhammad 25, J. Bullock 22, N. Herbert 15) defeated Albury Wodonga Bandits 70 (N. Payne 20, D. Briglia 16, R. Bright 15) at the Arena

The St Laurence Geelong Supercats have put in a solid all-around team performance to thrash the Albury-Wodonga Bandits at the Arena on Saturday night. The win extends the team’s streak to seven wins and puts them firmly inside the top four on the Crazy John’s SEABL South Conference ladder.

The Bandits were behind the eight ball from the start, arriving at the Arena without their uniform shorts, they were forced to make do with wearing the shorts from the Supercat’s alternate blue strip. The Supercats welcomed Daniel George back into the line up after a couple of weeks out with injury.

The topsy-turvy first quarter was opened by three pointers from Braith Cox and Nathan Herbert before the visitors could score but the Bandit’s Nick Payne kept them in it seizing back the lead with a three of his own followed by a three point foul shot play seconds later. The lead was to change ten times during the quarter as both sides played scrappy basketball but Jamie Medved and J’Nathan Bullock steadied the ship for Geelong with a three pointer each to take a 36 to 30 lead at the first change.

In the second, the Supercats turned on a mighty defensive display with Nathan Herbert and Nick Owusu’s efforts in particular holding the visitors to just nine points for the term to Geelong’s 23 to establish a comfortable 20 point margin at the change of ends. Isma’il Muhammad and Bullock were leading the scoring once again for the Supercats and Seb Loader came off the bench to add some valuable assistance at both ends of the court playing centre.

The Bandits came out with all guns blazing in the third and went toe to toe with the Supercats for the whole quarter. Muhammad, Bullock, Herbert, Cox and Owusu built the lead to 27 only to have Payne and Daniel Briglia for the visitors chip away to bring it back to a 21 point margin at the last break.

Head coach Jamie O’Loughlin bought Ben Suchanek into the game just before the end of the third quarter and the talented rookie relished in playing some serious minutes with some of the experienced players. Although not scoring a basket, Suchanek’s rebound and length of the court fast break was worthy of better and made the full house at the Arena sit up and take notice.

Suchanek stayed in the game for the early going of the last quarter as Muhammad and Bullock started to pull a few party tricks out of their respective bags and the Supercats steadily increased their lead. With the game under control, O’Loughlin was able to give his entire bench, including Loader, Keith Harrison and Matt Hardiman, some valuable minutes on court. They acquitted themselves well against the tiring Bandits continuing to increase the margin. The Supercats ran out comfortable victors 102 to 70.

Muhammad was the best for the Supercats with another MVP performance of 25 points and 19 rebounds. Bullock finished with 22 points, 8 rebounds, 3 steals and 2 assists while Nathan Herbert finished with 16 points. Cox and Medved also finished in double figures clicking up 10 points each. Payne was the best for the visitors with 20 points.

The Supercats play Frankston at the Arena next Saturday night. Tip off is at 7:30pm

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