By RUSSELL BENNETT
THE Casey Cavaliers Big V men will have to bounce back quickly from a heavy 73-56 loss if they’re to extend their grand final series against Shepparton into a third and deciding clash.
The showdown between the top two sides in Division 2 tipped off in Shepparton on Saturday night with the hometown Gators getting the jump on the top-of-the-table Cavs to take what could be a telling lead in their best of three game series.
Casey led by three points, 20-17, at the end of the first quarter but it was already apparent to coach Stewart Baird that the side’s energy was lacking. In fact, after watching back the tape of the game in the aftermath, Baird said the warning signs were there even in the warm-up.
“I don’t know if it was nerves, the trip up there, or probably a combination of both,” he said.
“We just didn’t seem mentally prepared but the truth is that there’s not much between the two teams.”
Baird is right – in fact not only did Casey finish on top of the Division 2 regular season standings, the Cavs toppled Shepparton twice – by six points in rounds 1 and 14.
The second quarter on Saturday night was the game-breaker for the Cavs, who were outscored 25-8 to be on the wrong end of a 42-28 scoreline at the half.
The rot continued in the third with the Cavs again struggling on the offensive end.
Gators gun Matt Bartlett again led the way for his side with 20 points on 7-13 from the field but Baird praised the defensive efforts of Brad Szalek in guarding one of the league’s best scorers.
Matt Pebole had a super-efficient game on the offensive end for the visitors with 18 points on 8-8 shooting, but Matt Witherden struggled by contrast – going just 1-6 in 30 minutes.
“We’ve just got to put game one behind us,” Baird said following the game.
“After watching the video it was plainly obvious what we did wrong.”
The Cavs will look to rectify that in game two this Saturday night at the Cranbourne Basketball Stadium from 8pm. Game three, if required, will be in Cranbourne on Sunday afternoon from 12.30pm.
