TRARALGON T-Birds’ men turned in a monster fourth quarter comeback to topple Western Port Steelers in Country Basketball Gippsland’s return round on Saturday at Somerville Recreation Centre.
After bounding to a 21-12 lead at the first break, Traralgon relinquished the advantage by the end of the third and trailed 67-75 heading into the final term.
Led by Ben Barlow (34 points) and Frazar Brouns (24) the T-Birds posted 42 points in a high-scoring final stanza to get home 109-106.
The Traralgon win came despite an incredible individual haul of 49 points by Western Port’s Alistair Granger, which included eight three-pointers.
The win kept the T-Birds in the top four with two rounds remaining in the regular season.
Traralgon’s women enjoyed a more comfortable win against the same opposition with a 69-44 triumph.
The T-Birds won all four quarters as Rachel Drennen notched a game high of 33 points.
Traralgon now sits fourth in the Gippsland conference with a decent buffer to fifth-placed Southern Peninsula Sharks.
After an abbreviated return, CBL Gippsland will continue this weekend with a full round of matches.
Western Port Steelers 106 lt Traralgon T-Birds 109
Western Port Steelers 81 def Korumburra Wildcats 61
Western Port Steelers 44 lt Traralgon T-Birds 61
Korumburra Wildcats 84 def Southern Pen Sharks 41
Western Port Steelers 38 lt Korumburra Wildcats 72
