A BRUSH with the best has given Ballarat Miners a definite benchmark their bid to make South East Australian Basketball League finals.
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The Miners matched Mount Gambier early but did not sustain their game for a full 40 minutes. Their 18-point loss to Mount Gambier at home on Sunday has made the GMHBA Miners’ next assignment against Brisbane even more pivotal.
The Miners must sharpen up and capitalise on hosting their next three games at the MARS Minerdome. Two of these – Brisbane next Saturday night and Geelong on July 8 – are in their same, tight east conference and Brisbane, like the Miners, is battling to break into the top four.
Miners coach Eric Hayes said that even though his team lost to Mount Gambier, he still felt his Miners were playing better basketball.
“Our energy looked good, it was more about making the right decisions throughout and just sticking together,” Hayes said. “(Next three games) are massive. We haven’t protected our home court as much as we’d hoped and now we have three more opportunities.”
Miners’ fans were treated to flashes of how this team can play at its best. They also saw flashes of exciting, athletic play from new American import Gregg Thondique in his first Minerdome game.
But Thondique, like his team, struggled to adjust when the formidable Mount Gambier stepped its game up a notch in the second half.
Thondique arrived from the United States a week ago and had played two games on the road, including a great game on the road a night earlier with 24 points and eight rebounds in the Miners' 11-point win against Sandringham. He made nine points, pulled in 10 rebounds and ran into foul trouble early against the Pioneers.
The Miners had their home crowd roaring early in a 17-4 scoring run – Thondique scored the opening basket – and this was against a formidable, high-quality team that had arrived on their court with nine consecutive wins. By quarter-time the Pioneers had reeled the margin back within a point and played stayed close to the half.
Only, the Miners lost their way. Their defence was picked apart as the Pioneers formed a multi-pronged scoring attack. The Pioneers had six players score in double-figures.
Roy Booker was the Miners’ top-scorer with 19 points but Anthony Fisher was the more consistent, with improved shooting, in his 18-point game.
Everard Bartlett, who made a big impact in the first half, was shut down to four points, one assist in the Miners’ second-half unravelling.
Daniel Skaer was also called up to play a short, sharp defensive role.
