Undermanned Bendigo steps up for key wins

With both its import centre and captain out of action, and another star going down injured in the first second of a double-header, fans could have been forgiven for thinking it was going to be a tough weekend for the Bendigo Bank Braves.

But by Sunday afternoon, the Braves, and their fans, were celebrating two of the team’s best wins under coach Stephen Black.

Bendigo opened their weekend against a star-studded Geelong at Red Energy Arena on Saturday night, with Adam Pechacek and Isaac Murphy still out with injury.

Braves recruit and NBL player Lat Mayen injured his ankle at the tip-off, and left the court almost immediately.

Whether it was the injuries, or Black’s much-talked about “it’s coming” form, Bendigo went on to play 40 stunning minutes of basketball.

Jumping out of the blocks, Bendigo led 8-0, with defensive pressure causing four Geelong turnovers in the first two-and-a-half minutes.

As expected, Geelong fought back, a Liam O’Brien three on the buzzer putting Bendigo ahead by that margin at the first break.

Mayen returned to court for the second quarter, but quality defence from Geelong saw Bendigo down 51-55 at half time.

The game became a shootout in the third, with star guard Bijan Johnson hitting 12 for the quarter, and Mayen dominating at both ends, setting up a tantalizing last term with Bendigo trailing 81-82.

With the game in the balance, Johnson, Mayen, Christiaan Jones, and Luke Rosendale delivered, Bendigo running over the top of Geelong for a 109-97 win.

Johnson finished with 38, Rosendale 21, Mayen 19, Jones 14 and Billy Smythe an impressive eight against quality bigs.

Bendigo backed up the following day at Ringwood and was on fire from the start, hitting two threes and causing two turnovers in the first four plays of the game.

That led to a 3-11 lead in the first two-and-half minutes and set the scene for the day, Bendigo up 28-20 at the first break.

Bendigo’s defence held strong in the second term, increasing the lead to 54-42 at the main break, with Johnson, Mayen, Rosendale, and Dylan McCauley leading the way.

The Braves ball movement resulted in quality shooting opportunities, and late in the third, Bendigo was shooting at more than 70 per cent from beyond the arc.

The 83-68 three-quarter time lead was pushed out to 24 points in the last quarter, with the Braves cruising home 107-93.

Mayen hit 26 points and brought down 11 rebounds. Johnson (23 points) Rosendale (19) and Smythe (10) were impressive for the second time in two days.

McCauley, Jones, and O’Brien were also instrumental at key stages during the game.

Bendigo ended up with a three-point-shooting percentage of more than 55 for the night, and a two-point percentage of 66, testament to their quality ball movement.

For Black, it was a red-letter weekend.

“It was incredibly pleasing. I couldn’t be more proud,” he said.

“We shot exceptionally well and there were so many plays that came off because of effort and teamwork.

“That was the really pleasing thing for me as a coach, what they did and how they did it.”

Black said the ball movement and early scores from Johnson in both games gave his side confidence.

“BJ was unbelievable, in the true sense of the word,” he said.

“That was a peak performance and it was the perfect time for him to step up. Everything about his weekend was impressive.”

Black also singled out Mayen, O’Brien, McCauley, and Smythe for stepping up.

“Lat’s injury on the jump ball against Geelong was something I had never seen before, and the way the team handled that, the resilience they showed, was pleasing.

“And for Lat to come back the next day and perform just as well as the night before shoes mental and physical toughness. It was inspiring.”

Photo - Craig Dilks Photography