By JARROD POTTER
BIG V – ROUND 15
WORKING hard for their headband hero, Casey Cavaliers surged to claim an 88-83 win over Keysborough in Ash Szalek’s 100th Big V clash.
Szalek got to run through his banner and celebrate the century milestone on his home court before the side locked horns on Saturday night – a moment he didn’t expect but greatly enjoyed.
“It was fantastic – I didn’t know anything about the banner so it was pretty exciting to see that, the big cheer and everything when I was called on,” Szalek said.
“Makes all the extra stuff around the club that I do worth it – makes me enjoy my job that much more.
“The game itself for me was just like every other game – trying to do my role the best I can – but the appreciation of everyone was a good feeling.”
From the first steps of the former Cranbourne Cavaliers Big V program, Szalek has been part of the furniture at Casey Indoor Basketball Stadium and has seen the side evolve and progress.
“The whole progress of everything has been phenomenal – five years ago Cranbourne Cavaliers didn’t run our own domestic comp, less than 30 junior rep teams but now everything seems to be on the right track,” Szalek said. “The seniors are great with all three teams, juniors are going well and we’ve got VC teams in most age groups and the ones we don’t were pretty close to getting there.”
In a way only a Cavaliers-Cougars clash could unfold, the crosstown rivals reignited their ages-long skirmish in a nail-biter as the visitors stormed back on some tremendous three-point shooting.
Casey fanged it out of the blocks, shooting away to a 42-26 lead at the break … but it left the door ajar for a fightback.
He thought the first-half efforts of the group – with Brent Hobba (25 points), Dean Johnson (16 points, nine rebounds) and Mitch Chapman (11 points) leading the way – paled in the second as Keysborough closed the door on power-shooting from Ben Morwood (20 points) from beyond the three-point line.
But in the end, the Cavaliers found a way through the worst of the visitors’ challenge as the guards clamped down to record the side’s 13th win of the season.
“We had a pretty decent first half – did our stuff and had a 15-point lead at the half and we talked about being able to put them away as it’s something we haven’t been fantastic at,” Szalek said.
“But they got on a good streak with their threes – full credit to them – but it was a bit of a letdown from our point of view that we weren’t able to stop that.
“But as good teams do – even with them on that hot streak – we were able to maintain a lead and take the win – Brent’s (Hobba) shooting was amazing as always – think he dropped 25 – and the composure of players like Ben (Louis) and Mitch (Chapman) week in, week out is good when it’s on the line and get it back onto our page.”
Szalek wanted to thank his wife Alysha for “letting me give up my week to basketball” as well as the junior under-16 girls team and parents for organising his banner, plus the club and association for their support.
On top of that he wanted to give a media-fine friendly shout out to everyone on the Cavaliers senior men’s team – coach Stewart Baird, assistant coach Simon Phillips, James Deneefe, Brad Szalek, Dean Johnson, Steve Michalski, Sean Mckinnon, Matt Witherden, Mitch Chapman, Bevan Camilleri, Ben Louis and Brent Hobba.
In other Cavaliers results, the junior men cantered past Maccabi 76-60 – via Sam Pike (23 points, 13 rebounds) and Jordan Gookier (11 points, seven rebounds) – while the women had it even easier against Keysborough’s women with a 70-46 victory. Ruchelle McCracken (17 points, 10 rebounds) and Tarryn Wilkin (12 points, 17 rebounds) continued their rampage in the key.
Casey men travel to face Keilor on Saturday night, the women are also away at Melbourne Uni and the Youth Men host Western Port on Sunday from 4.30pm.
