By RUSSELL BENNETT
ON face value, the Pakenham Warriors Big V basketballers couldn’t contain Western Port scoring sensation Manny Hendrix on Saturday night.
The star guard entered his fourth game of the season with point totals of 24, 34 and 42 already to his name over three stellar outings and added another 26 against Pakenham.
But a closer look reveals the truth to the contest, with the Warriors’ premier wing defender Hayden Davey doing a superb job at making life on the hardwood as tough as possible for Hendrix.
The American import, and Big V first division all-star, shot just 11 of 26 from the floor as the Warriors clawed their way to a gritty away win at The Steelerdome in Somerville, 69-58.
From the outset it was clear that Hendrix was the sole focus of the Western Port offense and Warriors coach Ryan Rogers made the most of it. The visitors’ zone defense restricted the Steelers to ill-advised outside jumpers for much of the contest, while on the other end the likes of Jim Viray (16 points and 11 rebounds); Bill Winder (9 points and 8 boards); and Sean Armstrong (8 points, 7 boards) attacked the paint and hit the offensive glass with regularity.
Davey’s stifling defense sparked his offensive game – finishing with the impressive all-around numbers of 8 points, 10 rebounds and 4 assists before ultimately fouling out.
The Warriors led by just one point – 28-27 – at the half but blew the game apart with a 27-10 third quarter.
Young Warriors point guard James Magrath started in place of regular floor general Cam Luke, who missed the contest. Though he struggled badly from the charity stripe (shooting 4-14) and was credited with seven turnovers, he was crucial to the Pakenham cause.
He was a disruptive presence all night – constantly getting in the face of his Steelers opponents and completely throwing off their focus.
On the offensive end, meanwhile, he threw his body around with reckless abandon – putting everything on the line for his team.
Big man Jay Richardson, meanwhile, further cemented his reputation as the Warriors’ best passer with a string of brilliant finds down low.
Rogers was thrilled with Davey’s performance, specifically, adding: “H takes the toughest defensive assignment week in, week out when it comes to the other team’s best perimeter player.
He’s a 20-year-old kid essentially in his rookie year and we know Hendrix is going to take his 25 shots, it’s just about the calibre of shots we give him. It was definitely a key making sure as many of those as possible were contested.”
Pakenham plays twice in Round 5 this week, beginning at 7pm tonight at Cardinia Life against the Maccabi Warriors. They’ll return to their home court on Sunday to face off against the North East Bushrangers from 1.30pm.
New recruit Brett Rainbow is Pakenham’s only real injury worry, with his season debut delayed due to a calf complaint.
