The St Laurence Geelong Supercats have staged a remarkable overtime win against Dandenong on Thursday night coming from a near impossible position of 14 points down with four minutes to play in regular time to blitz the rest of the game and the overtime period and win by 11 points

Domenic Friend and Nick Owusu returned from injury although the latter was used sparingly and still showed the lingering effects of a back injury. With Daniel George unavailable, the starting centre role went to veteran Sebastian Loader who continues to wind back the clock and show vintage form.

Both sides sounded each other out in the first quarter with neither able to gain a big advantage. J’Nathan Bullock’s big dunk at the six minute mark was a clear highlight in a lack lustre quarter. The Supercats led by as many as five before Rangers big man Luke Fitzgerald helped his side regain the lead. Nathan Herbert landed the first of his five three pointers for the night to give the visitors a one point lead at the first break.

In front of a small crowd in a freezing cold stadium, Geelong could not get going in the second quarter as the sides went basket for basket. Herbert and Bullock continued to star for Geelong and Braith Cox had the hot hand as the Rangers concentrated on containing Isma’il Muhammad. Dandenong moved ahead and held onto a three point advantage at the half.

Dandenong noticeably increased their tempo at the half realising that the Supercats with their injuries did not go deep on the bench. The tactic paid off as the Supercats could not hit their stride and Dwane Campbell’s 3 pointer helped the Rangers move out to a 10 point lead at three quarter time.

Geelong began to hit their straps in the last quarter and were just starting to gain the ascendancy when a tripping incident went un-noticed by the referees. When Cox remonstrated, he was called for a technical foul and the resultant four shots and possession saw the home side move ahead to the biggest lead of the night of 13 points. Moments later and with 4 minutes to play another free throw had the Rangers ahead by 14. The Supercats, buoyed by the previous incident went on fire with Cox, Bullock ad Herbert helping the Supercats to a 15 to 1 run in two and a half minutes as Bullock tied the scores with 90 seconds to play.

Neither side scored in the frantic last 90 seconds of regular time and they finished locked together at 86 points. It seemed that the Supercats had reserved all of their energy for the overtime period as the deflated Rangers only managed 6 points to the Supercats 17 and Geelong ran out winners 103 to 93.

Herbert led all scorers with 37 for Geelong including 5 of 8 from beyond the arc. Cox had a great game with 21 and Bullock had 19 points and 11 rebounds. Fitzgerald had 25 for the Rangers.

The Supercats are in Melbourne again on Saturday night to play Frankston before returning to the Arena on Saturday 31st to play Kilsyth in the last regular season game.

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