Bendigo pushing for consistency

The Bendigo Bank Braves Men showed patches of what they’re capable of against a taller and more experienced Diamond Valley away on Saturday night.

Going in again without captain Isaac Murphy and star import Adam Pechacek, the Braves started slowly, down 17-32 at quarter time.

Bendigo fought hard early in the second, getting the lead down to 11, on the back of Lat Mayen and Bijan Johnson, before going into half time 42-54.

Another slow start to the third quarter saw the Eagles’ lead blow out to 20, before Bendigo again dragged it back to 11.

The Braves’ effort to continually fight back took its toll, with Bendigo finishing on the wrong end of a  93-107 result, despite winning the last three quarters.

Mayen finished with a game-high 35 points and 13 rebounds. Johnson ended the night with 20 points, Luke Rosendale 11, and Billy Smythe 10.

Coach Stephen Black said the start was disappointing.

“It really let us down, and while we were able to match it with them for the rest of the game, we didn’t put enough scoreboard pressure on,” he said.

“At the start of the second quarter we started doing more of the things we want to do, and defensively we stayed within the rules we are trying to put into place.

“We were still trying to play with some energy in the third quarter, but the execution wasn’t there.”

Black said energy and execution is the key to his team’s success moving forward.

“We need to understand we can get results if we all move in the same direction,” he said.

“We need to all focus our energy and play to the same script. That’s the big challenge for us.

“We are trying to develop these habits and get the consistent performance we’re after.

“I believe we can certainly get there. We need to grab it with both hands and see what happens.“

Photo - Craig Dilks Photography