By ADEM SARICAOGLU
WERRIBEE was shell-shocked by a previously winless Whittlesea Pacers outfit in State Championship Men’s Big V Basketball on Saturday night.
The Devils had started their 2014 campaign well with three wins from five starts, but it was the Pacers who looked the goods right from the opening tip-off.
Werribee’s lack of defence exposed the visitors in the back court and allowed for many easy Whittlesea points, and by quarter-time the score already read an ugly 30-11 in favour of the hosting Pacers.
Mark Hughes’ men then steadied and managed to break even for the second and third quarters, but were coming from way too far back to get back into the game.
By the final term it had become a fizzer and while Werribee won the quarter 19-10, it did little to change the complexion of the ball game, which ended 77-66 Whittlesea’s way.
The Devils struggled to quell the Pacers’ Jason Dirkx, who was the most dominant force on the court with 29 points and seven rebounds for the night.
Jermaine Williams combined well with Dirkx for 18 points and six boards.
For Werribee too much was left to Aaron McCuin, who spent just about the entire 40 minutes on the floor and ended up with 23 points and a game-high 18 rebounds.
Rustin Dowd tried hard for 14 points and Anthony Luxford contributed 10, but the Devils simply lacked offensive potency and were left to rue what proved a costly opening term.
At 3-3, Werribee now sits outside the top six in seventh place on the table and will now enjoy a break over the Easter weekend before resuming the court away to Diamond Valley in round six.
Werribee’s women fared better at home to Mildura on Saturday, improving their record to 3-2 with an 81-67 win.
Elisha Burnette put up 30 points to leave the Heat little chance of a win after trailing by seven at quarter-time.
At the final change the Devils’ lead was just two points but normal service resumed in the final stanza, with Werribee smashing Mildura 28-16.
Werribee is sixth on the Division One table and will host Craigieburn on Sunday week.
