Sport
24 January, 2024
Hornets through to the finals
Both men's and women's Hornets teams are through to the finals in the Country Basketball League after thrilling results on the weekend.
The women needed one win to make finals and secured it on Sunday against Millicent with an overtime four point win.
Celebrating Caitlin Jones-Story's 100th game, they got out of the blocks fast to lead by eight points at half time.
Millicent piled on the pressure in the third quarter with 20 points to take a four point lead into the main break.
The last quarter was tight with the Hornets fighting back to force the game into overtime. In the first period of overtime they came out on top to win 66-62.
Olivia Jones top scored with 20 points with Emalie Iredell scoring 16. The day before they lost to Warrnambool by eight points, 56-64 with Maddison Iredell topping the scoreboard with 15 points.
They finished the regular season on five wins which put them in third position where they will play Portland in the first week of the finals next weekend.
The men's team, also celebrating a 100 game milestone with Jake Hobbs, won both their matches against Warrnambool and Millicent by two points.
In their 68-66 win over Warrnambool, Mitch Martin fired with five three pointers to top the scoreboard with 21 points.
Coach Scott Benbow said he was on fire.
"He has been threatening to have a huge game and it finally came good and his defense was great," he said.
On Sunday against Millicent they won 73-71 and it was Austin McKenzie that starred with a season high 35 points.
He leads the league in scoring this year on 355, three points ahead of Portland's Nathan Hardingham and with Terang's Ryley Hutchins 66 points behind in third, he is set to win the league leading scoring award.
Benbow said he has been a different player this year and thoroughly deserves it.
"He has facilitated the offense a lot and has had an unbelievable season," he said.
"He has been huge and a different player for us and he still demands the ball. He is sometimes double teamed and on Saturday he was triple teamed but still finds a way to contribute."
Benbow also praised Hobbs for his 100th game.
"Jake is a gentleman of the side. He is a well loved bloke," he said.
"He has a wicked sense of humour and is good at breaking tension. At half time he will come out with a comment to make the team relax and he has a lot of years experience too which helps."