By RUSSELL BENNETT
THE Pakenham Warriors men could secure a Big V basketball Division-2 playoff berth with victory at ‘The Colosseum’ Cardinia Life this Saturday evening against the North East Bushrangers.
Jeff Reid’s men consolidated their hold on the fifth and last playoff spot on Sunday afternoon with a massive 81-58 win over their namesakes, the Maccabi Warriors.
With an 8-8 record they’re now two wins clear of the Bushrangers with just two games to play.
Pakenham won its third straight game on the weekend on the back of a brilliant second half, which they won 43 points to 21.
They entered the half having conceded 23 points to Maccabi on 41 per cent shooting but they flicked the switch at the break and stormed out of the gates in the third quarter.
A brilliant defensive effort from Pakenham restricted Maccabi to just nine points in the third, on an incredibly low 18 per cent shooting.
By contrast, Reid’s men piled on 27 points of their own on 50 per cent from the field – including 4-7 from downtown.
Pakenham’s perimeter defense was a standout all game, restricting Maccabi to just 1-12 from deep, while nailing 44 per cent of their own attempts from long range.
Five players finished in double scoring, led by star guard Darren Galloway with 16 points to go along with seven rebounds and six assists. Young forward Hayden Davey recorded a 10-point, 12-rebounded double-double; while Mike Godfrey (13 points), Harry Van Dort (12 points) and Darrell Morgan (11 points) also contributed strongly to a particularly balanced attack.
The opening tip-off for the Warriors’ clash with the North East will be at 7pm this Saturday.
The Pakenham Warriors Big V Division-2 women’s side, meanwhile, will look to pick up their first win of the season when they host North East in the curtain-raiser from 5pm.
