BASKETBALL
TWO thrilling encounters have seen Latrobe City Energy’s men and women continue on in their BigV basketball finals campaigns.
Andrew Harlow’s women got one back against Mildura Heat, reducing a 15-point deficit to hit the front with a few minutes on the clock.
“It pretty much went to plan,” Harlow said.
“And an even contribution from the girls kept us in the game.”
Energy allowed Mildura stars Vanessa Power and Ivy Abiona to keep scoring, while containing the rest of the Heat women to single figures.
The Energy hit the front with about two minutes to go, winning Saturday night’s elimination final by four.
“We’ll have a bit of a rest, do some scouting and get some plans together, try to execute a few things,” Harlow said.
“And hopefully it works out with whoever we meet next.”
Meanwhile on the other side of the state, men’s coach Les Stothard was relieved to see his team finally play a “complete game” against Warrnambool.
“Which is obviously good timing,” Stothard said.
The men got out to a big lead in the first half, keeping their hopes of a consecutive premiership alive.
But to Warrnambool’s credit and a huge crowd, the home team came back and were in front by five with about one minute and 20 seconds of play remaining.
Execution of the play out of a time out saw the men score a three-point shot, followed by a steal and a lay up.
It was Energy’s Jordan Canovan who hit a big shot in the dying seconds, which saw the Energy seal the win by two points.
“It was a really big last minute and a half,” Stothard said.
“We’ll certainly be taking a lot of confidence (with) a win in that atmosphere, on the road and at sudden death.
“We take a lot of confidence moving forward and we’re certainly going to build from that.”
