By Stuart Teather
WERRIBEE was unable to deliver the fairytale finish for out-going captain Brad Salter, going down in an epic game to Hume City, in the final round of the Men’s Big V Basketball competition on Saturday.
Clearly the better side for the first three quarters, the Devils hardly put a foot wrong for most of the match, but gave way in the final term in the face of a fierce Broncos attack, losing 102-100.
The Devils won each of the first three quarters, and lead by 14 points at the final break, unlucky not to be further in front.
But a resurgent Hume City came out firing in the final term, with better shooting, smarter decisions and intense defensive pressure forcing Werribee to make a number of mistakes.
Mike Spears put the Broncos in front with four minutes to go, hitting a long jump shot to give his side a one-point lead.
A time-out with 2.34 left on the clock saw Werribee in possession, but the Broncos holding a one-point lead.
As soon as play resumed Small hit a three-pointer under pressure to give the lead back to the Devils, and a Spears turnover at the other end gave Werribee the chance to get a break on the Broncos.
A missed shot from Ingo Beaudet saw the Broncos attack back, and Spears hit a jump shot with two seconds left on the shot clock.
Beaudet got his own back on the next play, however, with a massive block on Jallow, resulting in the turnover.
The excitement in the arena was reaching bursting point as Hume called a final timeout with the scores tied and 45 seconds left in the match.
With the ball back in play, Werribee’s offence was confused and Nicholas Masunda was forced to take a difficult shot, which he missed, and the Broncos countered.
Time was running out and the ball was in the hands of Broncos’ point guard Greg Smith, who drove inside, pulled up and hit a two-pointer with 3.8 seconds left, to give his side the lead.
The Devils’ premier shooter Small could not hit the long three-pointer off the final play, and the Broncos went on to record a nail-biting win.
Werribee’s U.S combination of Small and Beaudet was magnificent in the dying stages, but Spears was unstoppable, hitting a number of pressure shots when his team needed him.
The game also marked the final appearance in a Devils’ guernsey for Dallas Wilson, who is going into retirement on the back of some good form.
Devils’ coach Warwick Giddey said it was a disappointing loss for the side, particularly given it was Salter’s final game. “It was extremely disappointing — to be in the box seat and dominate the game was extremely disappointing.
“Ingo I thought performed pretty well, he was our best player last night, he’s finally found his range and was dangerous on the boards.”
With Salter retiring, Werribee has a vacant point guard spot, and Giddey said he thought Dave Zammit and Chris Fastuca would be obvious candidates.
“Under pressure, (Dave Zammit) has got to learn to be able to handle that — as a young kid they’re going to target him… He’ll be better for the experience from last night.”
