The Geelong Supercats slim hopes of a top-two finish in the SEABL South Conference have suffered a potentially fatal blow with Saturday night’s 102-84 loss to Nunawading.
The loss has seen the Supercats sit with a 13-7 record ahead of the final seven games of the season, while second placed Hobart also has 13 wins, but has two games in hand, as well as holding head-to-head over Geelong.
However coach Mark Leader is now just worried about shoring up a top-three position, which guarantees a home final.
“I’m really not even thinking about second place, I’m thinking about holding on to third,” Leader said.
“Just getting one home final would be a big boost for us, so that’s what we are chasing right now.”
With Nathan Herbert away at a national training camp and captain Braith Cox sidelined with a back injury, the Supercats were limited in their rotation coming into the match.
However it didn’t show in an even first quarter against the Spectres, with Geelong taking a one-point lead into the opening break.
Nunawading, who went into the game without former Supercats import Brad Bridgewater, made its move early in the second quarter.
The Spectres broke the game open with an 11 point run thanks to potent shooting of NBL star Tommy Greer (30 points) and speedy guard Nathan Kennedy (25).
Greer, who was named to the same national camp as Nathan Herbert but withdrew because of a shoulder injury, was the dominant player on the court.
“As a team we probably were going into the game thinking he wasn’t going to be there,” Leader said
“We didn’t scout for that, and that threw us out.”
The Spectres were helped in their second quarter run by a technical foul to Jason Reardon and an unsportsmanlike against import Clifton Lee after a tangle with Jason Todorov.
“Jason can’t give away a technical foul like that,” Leader said.
“And Clifton should know better, you just don’t go over and shove a guy in front of everybody.”
“That really dug us a big hole going into half-time.”
The expected run from Geelong never came, with the margin never getting into single figures in the second half.
Jason Reardon was one of the few Supercats to produce anywhere near his best, finishing with 24 points, while Jamie Medved had 20.
American duo Isma’il Muhammad (9 points) and Clifton Lee (12) both had nights to forget.
However Muhammad did produce a monster 360 degree dunk in the first half which brought the crowd to its feet.
The Supercats have a break next week, before returning to The Arena for a clash with Mt.Gambier on July 3.