SHEER hunger to make finals gave Ballarat Miners and edge when they needed it most – in overtime.
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The GMHBA Miners had to beat Kilsyth in Kilsyth to stake a play-offs spot in their own right. They pushed ahead for a seven-point win on Satruday night and sealed that top-four spot in South East Australian Basketball League’s east conference that they had been chasing for weeks.
They now have a semi-final against Dandenong in the Rangers’ home, just like they did in last year’s finals series.
Miners coach Eric Hayes said who they faced or where they played, the Miners just wanted to make finals first and now could deal with the next step.
The Miners team work, energy and determination has been their strength late this season. In the end, that was how they found an edge.
“They were hungry to win. The guys really wanted it and fought for it,” Hayes said. “...(Earlier) we probably never got into a rhythm at all. We just never found good rhythm. We had nice patches of scoring six or eight points in a row. In overtime, we had another of those patches.”
Each Miner played his role. Roy Booker was top-scorer with 26 points. Anthony Fisher’s shooting was sharp for 15 points and he rebounded strong, taking 10 grabs. Gregg Thondique was also powerful on the boards for 16 points and 11 rebounds, while his fast-breaks set up handy play. Liam Gibcus’ relentless hustle set the tone.
Play was close from the outset. The Miners made a surge to build their biggest lead, 13 points, early in the fourth quarter and the Cobras just reeled them back in. Their tenuous two-point lead with 20 seconds to play was levelled by a Taylor Cameron jump shot for the Cobras. The Miners outscored the Cobras 13-6 in overtime.
A loss would not have ruled the Miners out of finals, but they would have been forced to rely on an out-of-form competition leader Mount Gambier beating a desperate Nunawading in Nunawading on Sunday.