By RUSSELL BENNETT
“EVERY heart beats true for the gold and the blue!”
The Pakenham Warriors faithful were in fine voice singing their team song on Saturday night at ‘The Fortress’ in Cranbourne, following an emotionally-charged win over local Big V Division 2 rivals, the Casey Cavaliers.
Put simply – wins don’t get much more stirring than Pakenham’s triumph at the Cranbourne Basketball Stadium.
The Warriors raided the Fortress still feeling the effects of star guard Jay Ferriere’s absence through injury; and the shock retirement of MVP candidate Jeff Reid.
And some players – such as Jed Bentley – were battling to find their shooting touch in the lead-in to the clash.
But boy did they bounce back with a bang and Bentley, a 21-year-old swingman, led from the front for a Pakenham side that, somehow, recovered from a horror five-point third quarter to claim the win – 79-70.
The Warriors seemed to have no answer for the Cavaliers’ stifling zone defense in the third and proceeded to take a host of low-percentage, long-range jumpers.
But the side’s approach changed from the start of the fourth, with Bentley, point guard James Magrath and Sean Armstrong inspirationally scooping their team-mates up off the deck and driving to the hoop with seemingly reckless abandon.
Both the Warriors and Cavs played the opening term at a frenetic, and sometimes out-of-control pace – possibly in a rush of blood due to the deafening noise from the local fans.
Cavaliers guard Jamie Leclerc and big man Dean Johnson spearheaded the Casey charge, while Pakenham skipper James Topp and the hard-nosed Jay Richardson (5 points and 9 boards) set the early tone for their side.
Pakenham led 19-18 at the first change – with their inside-out offense utilising Richardson and Topp in the low-post to find long-range shooters on the wings.
Bentley, one such long-bomber, found his range in the second and his team mates followed – nailing four of five from downtown in a blistering 32 points to 18 quarter. Richardson did the dirty work for Pakenham – jumping on every possible loose ball as if it was a live hand-grenade set to explode in the face of a team-mate.
But a disastrous third left the Warriors in a deep, momentum-less hole and searching for answers at the final break. The Cavs had put the clamps on the Warriors’ inside scoring, forcing them into ill-advised long-range attempts.
But Pakenham bounced back in the fourth – regaining the lead that they held by 15 at the half.
When athletic Casey powerhouse Puoch Phuoc performed a massive put-back slam to put his side up 62-56, the home side had all the momentum.
But he went for another one soon after, which resulted in a Topp layup at the other end. The Warriors had dragged the lead back and refused to let go.
When a fired-up Armstrong sank a free-throw to complete an and-one, the Warriors were up 74-69 with just two minutes remaining.
After a string of broken plays at each end in the dying stages, it was Bentley – fittingly – who iced the game at the free-throw line.
“It just shows the fight in this group to come back from the heartache of losing Jeff and this result confirms a finals spot for us for the first time,” Warriors coach Ryan Rogers said, still buzzing from his side’s triumph in the minutes after the game.
“And I couldn’t be more rapt for Jed.
“I spotted him trying to make the Warrandyte MMBL side.
“He didn’t make the cut there, but he was absolutely lights-out tonight.
“He has shades of Jeff in his game.”
The Warriors will make the trek to Shepparton this weekend to take on the Gators from 7.30 on Saturday night.
PAKENHAM WARRIORS 79 d CASEY CAVALIERS 70
Pakenham:
– Jed Bentley – 26 points (5 3pt), 7 steals.
– James Topp – 15 points, 7 rebounds.
– Sean Armstrong – 13 points, 5 rebounds
Casey:
– Dean Johnson – 12 points, 10 rebounds.
– Jamie Leclerc – 17 points, 5 rebounds.
– Ash Szalek – 6 points, 8 rebounds.
