THE Bendigo Braves’ season is over after they suffered a 79-65 loss to Mt Gambier in Friday night’s SEABL south conference grand final.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The Braves were right in the game up until half-time, but fell away dramatically in the second half.
The Pioneers extended their four-point half-time lead to as many as 21 in the fourth term.
The Braves had one of their worst offensive nights of the season, shooting at just 30 per cent from the field, including a wayward 5-22 from the three-point line.
The Braves had no answer for Pioneers’ import Damian Johnson who was game MVP with 20 points, 14 rebounds and seven blocked shots.
In contrast the Braves’ stars struggled offensively.
Tony Lewis pulled down 14 rebounds, but scored only eight points, four of those coming in the final two minutes.
Lewis and fellow import Grant Johnson were a combined 8-30 from the floor. Johnson finished with 12 points, while Josh Wilcher led the Braves with 13 points.
Mt Gambier advances to next Saturday night’s SEABL championship game against the winner of the east conference final between Albury and Geelong.