Sport
5 December, 2024
'It starts with defence'; Hornets to host CBL semi-final as milestone looms
Horsham will face Millicent on Saturday, December 7.
The Horsham Hornets will have a capacity crowd behind them when it hosts Millicent in the CBL semi-final on Saturday, December 7.
There will also be added motivation to get across the line as veteran Matt Lovel would play his 200th senior match in the grand final.
However for head coach Scott Benbow, the focus is squarely on the Magic.
"It's going to be a hell of a game, they got us in the first round but we got them the second time in front of our home crowd," Benbow said.
"They'll make adjustments and have seen our full side now. I'm sure they will have a game-plan.
Benbow sees the defensive end as crucial to the match-up.
"It's going to start with defence for us this week. Frazer Bradley, Harry Mules and Jackson Bowden are their three dynamic athletes so we won't give them space," he said.
"We'll make it really hard and it will be that next up mentality to step up and help."
The key to the Hornets' strength is the continued effort of two-time reigning defensive player of the year Cody Bryan.
"You might look at Cody's scoring and he might be just hitting double figures but his defensive just stops so many points," he said.
"He probably saves us 15-20 points a game and is so important for us. {he is] the best defensive player in the league."
Heading into their fourth-straight finals campaign, Benbow believes the playing group is in a good position to have a run at a second championship in his tenure.
This group has been together for four years, and they're just getting better and better and they really deserve it this year," he said.
"They've worked so hard and just the culture of the group, we're just so proud of them."
Tip-off for the semi-final is 7pm.