MINERS have kept their finals hopes alive with two stunning wins at the weekend, playing like they are hungry to reach South East Australian Basketball League play-offs.
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The GMHBA Miners finished 17 points up against Basketball Australia’s Centre of Excellence team at home Saturday night and used the chance to put minutes into rookie players. They backed this up with a resounding 17-point upset of powerful east conference rival and finals contender Dandenong on the road on Sunday.
These hurdles now cleared, ahead lies the most pivotal, season-defining, crunch game the Miners have faces this season – hosting Nunawading, a team one game clear of the Miners in east rankings, a fortnight out from finals.
Miners coach Eric Hayes said his team was just awesome in how they played.
Dandenong had won five games straight before they hit the Miners. The Rangers were tougher and more physically imposing than the BA CoE but the Miners injected the same spark they showed at the MARS Minerdome Saturday night.
“The boys had certainly risen to the occasion. Next week we’ve got another occasion, another do-or-die game,” Hayes said. “The way we play when we’re playing well, I’ve always backed us against anybody.”
American Roy Booker was the Miners’ most valuable player at home. Booker shot 34 points, including a 17-point opening quarter, with six assists. Then backed it up with 35 points, featuring nine three-pointers, against the Rangers.
But it was clear this was a full team effort. Gregg Thondique and Anthony Fisher were sensational. Liam Gibcus and Chris Smith provided a strong presence. Dyson King-Hawea and Kris Blicavs injected excitement.
Hayes said the all-round contribution was the reason the Miners captured the double victory. They built on form for a higher intensity clash on the road.
Miners’ youngster Tristan Fisher had a chance for his first minutes before a Minerdome crowd on Saturday night. The 16-year-old has been suiting up for Miners home games the past month and was rewarded with almost six minutes on the floor, stepping out first to finish off the last two minutes of the third quarter.
“I was thankful we were able to play well enough to reward the young guys that have been working so hard with us at training,” Hayes said. “We were able to give Tristan a run against some guys more his age...It was good to see him out there.”
Lots has changed since the Miners last met Nunawading in the Spectres’ Graveyard in early May.
The Miners lost that clash by three points.
