By JARROD POTTER
BOUNCING back in the best way possible, Casey Cavaliers men stole the show from ladder leaders La Trobe in a 78-71 Big V Division-1 triumph.
Paying respect to the Anzacs before the match, the Saturday night clash held significant meaning for both sides as they went about putting on a spectacle for everyone who crammed into Casey Indoor Leisure Centre.
Casey flew out of the blocks to leave the Energy sapped – posting a 46-29 lead at the main break as Matt Witherden (16 points, 10 rebounds) and Lester Strong (10 points, 8 rebounds) pushed their opponents aside.
La Trobe surged in the second half to ensure it wouldn’t be all smooth sailing for Stewart Baird’s brigade, but even a 17-point turnaround in the third term wasn’t enough to discharge the Cavaliers.
They would hold on through the final term to take a seven-point win and push back towards the middle of the table in Division 1’s Watson Conference. With an absolute logjam from third to seventh, the Cavaliers’ conference is shaping to be hotly contested in the race for finals as the Casey men face one of the harder weekends on the BIG V calendar this weekend.
They take a road trip to Shepparton on Saturday night for the Division 2 grand-final rematch before scrambling back home on Sunday afternoon to battle Warrandyte from 3pm.
The Cavaliers women had a tumultuous week – with coach Tim Parker sacked by the Casey Basketball Association prior to the weekend – but it didn’t affect the Casey ladies on-court, who rallied to take a 55-52 win over Mornington.
Sammie Johnson (12 points, 10 rebounds) hit her straps – posting her third double-double in the midst of a breakout season – while Amy McFarlane (12 points, 4 assists) and Bec Magdich (9 points, 4 rebounds) were also prominent on the scoresheet.
Casey women’s team has a bye this weekend before facing Blackburn at home in the second incarnation of the Cavaliers’ Ballin’ for Breast Cancer triple-header.
