THE Bendigo Symes Motors Braves have opened their 2010 South East Australian Basketball League season in stunning style, destroying arch-rivals Ballarat by 31 points on Saturday night.
In what was the night the Braves unveiled their new coach Ben Harvey and new black playing strip, the Braves smashed the Miners 104-73 at the Bendigo Stadium to regain The Advertiser-Courier Cup.
It was a dream start to the coaching career of Harvey, who has taken over the reins after Wayne Larkins’ seven years at the helm of the club.
“We’ve worked hard pre-season; we’ve got a great team and a great culture at the moment, so to win like that . . . you dream about a start like this, so I’m very excited,” Harvey said.
“Ballarat was unfortunate that (import) Drake Reed couldn’t play for them, but to come out and win by 30 points shows we were ready after a good pre-season.
“I’m very proud of the group and looking forward to a big year.”
The Braves tipped off the 2010 season with a starting five of Adam Tanner, Warren Randall, Kevin Probert and new imports Ivan McFarlin and Luke Meyer.
The first points of the season were scored by Tanner, who banked in a lay-up off the backboard off an assist from Probert and was fouled.
The Miners opened a 16-10 lead on the back of a three-pointer to Jared Scoines with 5:09 remaining in the first quarter, but the Braves hit back strongly to lead 28-25 at the first break.
Both sides were on target from long-range in the first-term, with the Braves connecting on three-of-four three-point shots, while the Miners made four-of-six.
The two sides traded baskets early in the second quarter, with the score locked together at 38 apiece with 6:10 remaining.
However, the remainder of the quarter was dominated by the Braves.
Starting with a three-point play from McFarlin, that was followed by a classy Probert drive to the basket and three-pointer to Pat Jennings, the Braves scored eight straight points to kickstart at 20-7 run to end the quarter as they led 58-45 at the half.
The Braves then came out in the third quarter and blew the Miners away.
In a brilliant 10 minutes of basketball, the Braves scored 26 points, while holding the hapless Miners to just nine as their defence stifled Ballarat.
During the third quarter onslaught: Bendigo made nine-of-17 field goals, compared to Ballarat’s two-of-12.
Bendigo made six-of-nine three-pointers.
Bendigo forced five Ballarat turnovers.
At one stage in the third quarter, Ballarat went almost four minutes without scoring a single point.
By three-quarter time the Braves’ lead had blown out 29 points, 84-55.
Bendigo then ensured it won all four quarters by adding a further 20 points to 18 in the last.
In a positive sign for the Braves, they shared the load offensively, with six players scoring in double figures - McFarlin (17), Randall (16), Probert (16), Chris Hogan (14), Tanner (13) and Meyer (10).
McFarlin also added 13 rebounds as the former Philadelphia 76er in the NBA helped the Braves dominate the rebound count 39-27.
In his first game back for Bendigo since 2004, and 150th for the club, Ricky Daniels scored four points and had seven rebounds in 20 minutes of court time.
The Braves’ three-point shooting didn’t let-up all night as they finished with 15-of-23 from long-range.
Ballarat’s leading scorer was Scoines, who had 23.
Ballarat yesterday rebounded from the Braves’ thumping to beat Mount Gambier by nine points.
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