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Tue

Jun 20, 2023

Bendigo’s ‘feel-good’ win puts finals in reach

Anthony Radford

“We played really good basketball to start the game and we stayed tough throughout.

Bendigo Bank Braves Men roared into finals contention with a stunning win against a title favourite at Red Energy Arena on Sunday afternoon.

Bendigo started against the star-studded Eltham lineup exactly the way coach Stephen Black wanted, with high-intensity defence against the ball carrier, and targeted driving to the basket.

It paid off immediately, with Bendigo getting out to a 15-5 lead, and taking a 26-15 advantage into the first break. Luke Rosendale was impressive in the first stanza, dropping 13.

Eltham fought back in the second quarter, but Bendigo was holding its own, stopping the Wildcats stars from taking over.

With Bendigo up 41-38 at half time, it was anyone’s game, and the third quarter became a defensive arm wrestle. 

High-quality basketball from both teams ended with Bendigo going into the final quarter with a 60-59 lead and a large noisy crowd on the former Court One doing their bit to inspire the Braves.

Bendigo’s lead stretched out to nine with seven minutes to go, before Eltham clawed their way back to be level at 75 with seconds to go.

The Braves couldn’t get the final shot up, forcing the game into an overtime Bendigo dominated.

Bijan Johnson took the game by the scruff of the neck and hit nine OT points, Bendigo scoring more in the extra five minutes than it did in the entire last quarter to run out winners 91-84.

Rosendale was outstanding in both offence and defence, scoring 28 and keeping NBL star Angus Glover to just 15.

Johnson ended the game on 24 and Lat Mayen finished with a double-double – 19 points and 13 rebounds.

Centre Billy Smythe put in yet another huge performance under the ring in the absence of import Adam Pechacek, with 10 points and 13 rebounds, including a number of key plays at vital times.

Coach Stephen Black said he was proud of his team’s ability to hold a lead and soak up the immense Eltham pressure.

“That was the most pleasing thing,” he said.

“We played really good basketball to start the game and we stayed tough throughout.

“In the first half we were up and shooting really well, but when our shooting percentage dropped we stayed in the lead, which proved we were getting it done in defence.

“As a result, when we exploded on offence, as we did in overtime, the work we did in defence meant the impact was greater.”

Despite welcoming back captain Isaac Murphy, Bendigo was still without Pechacek and another import, Christiaan Jones, who returned home this week with a season-ending injury.

Black said that made the win extra special.

“We had two imports out with injury and Dylan McAuley was missing with illness, so that result is one of those feel-good wins,” he said.

Photo - Craig Dilks Photography

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