By Jonty Ralphsmith
Pakenham’s season has come to an end following a 98-85 loss to RMIT Redbacks in a do-or-die final on Saturday night.
RMIT marginally led for much of the night, the nine-point three-quarter-time lead a game-high to that point.
The Warriors tried to trim the lead early in the last but in between their own shots, couldn’t prevent Redbacks play-maker Stephen Coffey from sinking three threes and a two to keep the lead comfortable for the hosts.
Joe Davis trimmed the lead to seven with just under a minute to go to breathe some life into the contest.
But as happened all night, RMIT was able to respond, before four successful free throws, and a two to Coffey late, extended the margin to a game-high 13 points to finish.
Davis and Coffey were scoring machines all night, Davis scoring 40 points to go with eight rebounds (six defensive) and five assists in a show of class and poise in a big final.
Coffey, too, was unstoppable, with 37 points, four rebounds, five assists and five steals.
He also sunk nine of his 15 three point attempts, many of which came at decisive junctures, to keep the Warriors at bay.
The visitors were missing Brenton Charles, with Michael Johns backed to start the game.
Ned Weideman opened up the scoring with a three pointer straight away and Pakenham led for much of the first quarter.
It was, however, RMIT, which went into the first break ahead thanks to a late Coffey three pointer and two to Matt Spencer.
From there, the hosts led – bar a brief period in the third quarter when Josh Dow made two three pointers as the Warriors came hard.
