By RUSSELL BENNETT
THE Pakenham Warriors have slipped a game out of the top five on the Big V basketball Division-2 men’s ladder after a 21-point blowout loss to Western Port on Saturday night, 94-73.
The Steelers got out to an early 6-1 lead, which soon became 13-3 as the visitors set the tone at the Colosseum at Cardinia Life in Pakenham.
Warriors point guard Jay Ferriere returned to the lineup in his customary starting role, but Pakenham struggled to contain Steelers duo Kade Marra and Manny Hendrix right from the outset. The pair went on to score a combined 49 points of the Steelers’ 94-point total, with each shooting at an impressive clip from the field (47 per cent and 50 per cent, respectively). Marra finished with 23 points and nine rebounds, while Hendrix drained three triples on his way to 26 points.
Sean Armstrong (17 points and 8 rebounds) and Darrell Morgan (14 points) each had a real impact off the bench for the Warriors, but the Steelers’ long-range shooting was on fire.
Pakenham trailed by nine at the end of the first quarter but matched the Steelers with 24 in the second – lifting their own shooting to 53 per cent for the quarter.
The Warriors shot 45 per cent from the field overall in the first half but coughed up 10 turnovers.
They took care of the ball better after the main break, but their shooting dropped right away – only making two of their 13 three-point attempts for the game.
Some controversial refereeing decisions had both teams questioning right from wrong at stages throughout the second half, but the Warriors’ problem remained – an inability to consistently get a hand in the face of the Steelers’ long-range shooters. While the Warriors were within eight points after the third quarter, a Hendrix three early in the fourth ensured his side kept the momentum. Steelers captain Sean Hogenbirk finished with 14 points, while Ricki Dehaan (18 points, 9 boards) finished with a near double-double. Hayden Davey (9 points, 11 boards) was gallant as per usual for the home side.
The Warriors women also took to the floor on Saturday evening – going down 92-48 to Chelsea.
Jeff Reid’s men’s side next faces Coburg at home this Saturday night from 7pm, while Darren Thomas’ women’s side will battle Keysborough in the curtain-raiser.
