Black’s message to team: We are good enough

Bendigo Bank Braves Men’s coach Stephen Black had a clear message for his team after two tough NBL1 South home losses over the weekend: “I truly believe we are enough.”

Bendigo went into the weekend games against the Sandringham Sabres and Ringwood Hawks undermanned, with injuries to key guards Rowan Mackenzie and Dylan McCauley, and Mitch Clarke yet to join the squad.

So, the Sabres weren’t the ideal matchup at Red Energy Arena on Saturday night, a team stacked with Melbourne United NBL stars.

The young Braves competed well at times but were simply outgunned, going down 61-111. Lachlan O’Brien top scored for Bendigo with 16 points, and Andrew Robinson (13) Lachlan Sommerville (12), and Billy Smythe (10) the other standouts.

Coach Black was keen for a good start the following day against Ringwood, and his team delivered.

Robinson lit up the first quarter with 11 points, and centre Koch Bar scored all of Bendigo’s first six points.

Up 44-33 at half time, things were looking good for Bendigo. Their defense was strong, and their outside shooting was hitting the mark.

But that all changed in the third quarter. Shots dried up and Ringwood pounced, turning an 11-point deficit into a 12-point lead at the final break.

Bendigo couldn’t catch up in the last term, going down 77-89.

Robinson ended the afternoon with 20 points in a strong first-half performance. Smythe again showed how important he is to the team with 17 points, and Lachie O’Brien finished with 13.

Black said he was impressed with how his team came out in the first half on Sunday.

“Saturday’s game was particularly disappointing because we didn’t play the style we had been building to and really hung our hat on,” he said.

“There were many, many indicators we weren’t focused on things we needed to focus on.

“That was the pleasing part of Sunday. Regardless of who we are missing, we really went about it the right way and built up a lead.

“The endeavour to play the game the way we needed to was pleasing.”

His message to the team on Saturday night, and again on Sunday, was to continue to have belief.

“The message last night was that wasn’t good enough, but that I believe in who we have and what we do,” he said.

“That means we need to play a certain way and, in the face of difficulty, that’s when it’s even more important to believe in what we are doing.

“I truly believe we are enough, we are good enough. What we do is enough if we can be consistently us.”

Photo - Craig Dilks Photography