Bendigo Men stand tall in final game

The McDonalds Bendigo Braves Men ended their 2024 NBL1 season with a loss away at Kilsyth on Saturday, but for coach Stephen Black there was plenty of positive signs for next season.

With Rowan Mackenzie out with injury and Koch Bar away fighting for an Olympic spot, Bendigo went in with a skinny bench but a lot of determination.

Two big threes from Andrew Robinson gave the Braves a great start before Kilsyth got out to an eight-point lead late in the first quarter.

But as they have done all season, Bendigo fought back, closing the deficit to just one at the first break on the back of 60 per cent shooting from beyond the arc.

The second quarter was a tight one, with the Braves getting great looks in the paint and creating turnovers at the defensive end with quality ball pressure.

Down two at half time, Bendigo evened the score with a Billy Smythe layup to start the third quarter, and it was game on.

A heavy foul on Mitch Clarke at Bendigo’s defensive end fired up the Braves who took the lead and pushed it out to 10 with even more top-quality denial defense.

However, in the blink of an eye Kilsyth hit back, Bendigo going into the last break down 62-63.

A 2-11 start to the last quarter ended Bendigo’s chances, as the skinny bench struggled with a high foul count and yet another one-sided free-throw count (25-7).

Bendigo lost the last quarter 23-10 to go down 86-72. Clarke was remarkable at both ends, with 29 points.

Robinson (18) and Smythe (15) were the other main scorers.

Black said he was impressed with the way his team approached the dead rubber.

“We didn’t manage to execute what we were trying to do, but the physical intensity was pleasing,” he said.

“We had a good lead at the end of the third but lost it way too quickly

“Overall, was pleased with how they approached the game.”

Black said he was proud of the way his team played in the past month.

“You could see, particularly in the last five games, the passion and the intensity were high,” he said.

“We put ourselves in positions to win those games. That’s a real show of character

“You can mentally walk away or stand up, and our group really stood up and that made me proud."

Photo - Craig Dilks Photography