A LAST second three-point bomb from Jock Perry has steered the Ballarat Miners to a thrilling double-overtime win against Mount Gambier.
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Perry's last second heroics ensured the Miners their third win on the road this season, against a powerful opponent, who went into the match second on the NBL1 South ladder.
It was a win of persistence after it looked like Mount Gambier's star import Titus Robinson was going to win the game by himself.
Robinson shot the lights out with 40 points, going at 66 per cent from the field, but a season high 31 from William Hickey and a welcome return to form of Sam Short with 27 ensured the Miners hung around.
It was a crazy game of momentum with Mount Gambier taking a seven-point into half time before the Miners started blazing in the third quarter, outscoring the home side 25-12.
Mount Gambier hit back hard in the third levelling the game at the end of regulation with the Miners missing three buckets in the final seconds which would have won them the match.
Twice in the first overtime period, Mount Gambier had the chance to ice the game in the final seconds, but they too missed their chances, with the see-sawing game coming down to the second overtime period and Perry's long bomb.
Miners coach Brendan Joyce said his side had proved to be in every game this season, and the win was a just reward for all their efforts on the road over the past few weeks.
"We played a really good team on the road and it was a much needed win," he said.
"I was proud that we got the job done, we had a few chances in regular and in overtime to win it, but we just toughed it out."
Joyce joked that the team was doing his heart in at times.
"We're becoming the cardiac kids, we're a young group who is still learning about each other and we're still trying to play the right way together," he said.
"We have our moments and then we go off on a tangent instead of sticking to what we need to do. Each game we play we're striving to improve."
He said the win could be a crucial one in the context of the season
"It was very important, not many teams are going to beat Mount Gambier at Mount Gambier, it's always a tough trip," he said.
"We beat them in the pre-season, but since they have added an import in Titus Robinson which makes them a lot better. He was playing very much like Dillon Stith in the Frankston game a couple of weeks back, they are very similar players, and we just couldn't stop him.
"What did he have? 40 in the end, we had Jock and Dan (Joyce) guarding him, but we couldn't stop him.
"But from a team defence point of view, we started to help out and it helps us get over the line."
Joyce also said he was thrilled with the return to form of Short.
"Sam played his best game and I'm sure he's relived because it's actually our first win since he's been back in the team," he said.
"We're doing okay on the road, we're three of five on the road, we need to work towards getting to 50 per cent, and I think we'll really start to pick up once we get into the second half of the season."
There's one more big road trip ahead of the miners before the winter months which are largely at home, up against Bendigo on Friday night before they back-up the next night against Nunawading at home on Saturday evening. The Miners came from 23 points down at half time to force overtime against Bendigo at the first home game of the season.
