BASKETBALL
By samuel darroch
BigV Men
LATROBE City Energy usurped Blackburn Vikings by three points to claim top spot on the BigV division one table on Sunday.
Star United States import Ashton Pitts fouled out of the game with just 10 minutes under his belt, leaving the support staff to take control of the clash.
After a slow start to the year Nick Sedley made his mark, racking up 21 points with just one miss from the field and one from the line for the night.
The Moe Meteors stalwart hit four of five three-pointers and eight of nine from the field in a standout performance, backed by the reliable Jordan Canovan with a 22-point and 13-rebound double-double.
“I think that’s the beauty of our team, we can cover guys when we do have foul trouble or guys not playing,” coach Les Stothard said.
“I think it’s showing we don’t have one guy we rely on, which is why we are where we are now.
“Nick stepped up… to get him going again is good; he’s probably had a bit of a quiet start to the season, much quieter than he would have liked.”
Backing up from a one-point loss to Chelsea the day prior, the previously unbeaten Vikings began to show signs of fatigue following an even first quarter.
Energy skipped away in the second to lead by 11 points at the main break, after hitting 62.5 per cent from the field in a 27-point term.
While the final margin was just three, Energy led by as many as 16 in the last term and only a last gasp Vikings three-pointer brought the margin so close.
“It didn’t look like we were going to lose… we made some pretty poor errors and the guys took their foot off the accelerator a little bit because we did have a comfortable lead,” Stothard said.
“We just went to sleep a bit thinking the game was done and dusted and we can’t do that against the better sides.”
Energy travels to cross conference leader Warrnambool Seahawks on Saturday night in the battle of the Watson and Terrill leaders respectively.
BigV Women
ANOTHER big haul from Lindsay Horbatuck helped Latrobe City Energy canter past Keilor Thunder 89-64 at home on Saturday.
An immense 29-point, 28 rebound double-double from the American import underscored a full team effort, with contributions coming from all quarters.
Mikaela Dickson returned to her lethal best with 22 points, supported by Tanarly Hood, Jaz Allman and Laura Joyce in the scoring department.
The victory brought fifth-placed Energy one step closer to fourth-placed Thunder with a game in hand.
