By JARROD POTTER
A FULL-ROSTER assault greeted Keysborough when it came to Pakenham, who dished out an 86-48 basketball lesson.
From one-to-12, Pakenham declawed the Keysborough attack – which was dulled by the loss of star centre Kevin Benn.
After a closely contested first quarter, swaying Pakenham’s way 15-9, the pain started for Keysborough as Pakenham shots flew and fell rapidly.
A 26-6 quarter from the Warriors was driven by the home team’s accuracy – snaring 52.9 per cent of their field goals en route to a match average of 42.1.
Bill Winder was omnipresent across the attacking end – accruing 23 points from working to the basket at centre to getting fed the ball and unleashing some long threes.
With the match decided, Pakenham coach Ryan Rogers put the bench in – with Craig Drew (11 points) snaring double figures off nine minutes court-time in an impressive effort from the point to slather the icing on the cake thickly.
“That was something we really put an emphasis on – being the instigators and the aggressors,” Rogers said. “After last week’s result – everyone was really keen to turn it around.
“It was a game we felt we let ourselves down in many respect, so it’s fantastic to have a large win and everyone chip in.”
From limited minutes, James Topp (seven points, 10 rebounds, six assists) was phenomenal – bringing his team mates into the match with some fantastic assists from deep in the key – and would’ve registered a triple-double with full match time.
Jeff Reid (11 points, eight rebounds) and Jay Ferriere (three points, six assists) were also impressive as the guards railed against any Cougars’ counterattack.
It was Winder’s first foray into the 20s this season – a sign of things to come for the Pakenham veteran.
“Bill’s the one we tried to get some quality touches,” Rogers said. “The last four weeks his numbers haven’t been where they should be – and it was through the lack of quality touches he was getting and where he was getting them.”
With wholesale changes since their 77-82 round one loss to Coburg – adding the guard-pair Ferriere/Reid while losing rising star Sean Armstrong – Rogers said it’s a different side for the Giants replay but hope to avenge the narrow first-up loss.
“Played them in round one and we had Ferriere out that night and things have changed severely since then,” Rogers said. “We’re keen to pay them back for the loss they gave us at their place.”
Pakenham hosts Coburg on Saturday from 6pm at Cardinia Life.
