By JARROD POTTER
FOUR bigs to the floor dominated the Vikings as Casey’s tallest timber excelled against Blackburn in its 84-77 win.
With Casey’s mountainous forwards stopping any Vikings’ charge, the Cavaliers were able to turn around their form and push back into Big V Division 1’s top four.
The Cavaliers stormed the defensive end to keep Blackburn without an offensive board in the second term.
Stewart Baird’s men would eke out a 41-30 half-time lead before the Vikings started to regain composure and sink their shots.
Fighting efforts from Chris Payne (22 points) and Michael D’Agostino (14 points, 8 rebounds) were not enough to storm the Fortress as Casey held on to earn its second win of its inaugural Division-1 season.
Double-doubles from Matt Witherden (19 points, 11 rebounds) and Lester Strong (13 points, 11 rebounds) were complemented nicely by sixth man Dean Johnson (15 points, 9 rebounds) and star recruit Brent Hobba (15 points, 9 rebounds) nailing their shots to round out the triumph.
Casey is set to take an early-season Easter break this weekend before heading to Keilor to face the Thunder on 11 April.
It was a tougher outing for the Casey women however, downed 54-69 as Chelsea proved too strong on Sunday afternoon.
Best of the Cavaliers were Jess Szalek (12 points, 7 rebounds) and Sammie Johnson (10 points, 10 rebounds) while Tarryn Wilkin (9 points, 10 rebounds) went within a hair of snaring her first double-double in Cavaliers’ colours.
The Cavaliers women face Keysborough on 12 April at Springers Leisure Centre.
