THE Bendigo Braves shrugged off their Mount Gambier Pioneers’ hoodoo on Sunday with a hard-fought six-point SEABL win.
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Having lost their previous eight encounters against Mount Gambier – including last season’s south conference grand final – the Braves beat the Pioneers for the first time since 2013 with the 69-63 win at the Bendigo Stadium.
The Braves trailed by five points early in the last quarter, but finished the game on a 17-6 run to secure the victory.
“We’ve been priding ourselves on our defence and stops this year and to be able to hold them to 63 points for the match was a fantastic effort,” Braves coach Ben Harvey said.
“Every shot was a big shot and it was a real defensive game, but full credit to our boys.”
Bendigo’s Damian Johnson was outstanding against his former team with a double-double of 13 points and 10 rebounds, as well as five blocks, including two in the final two-and-a-half minutes.
Fellow starters Jeremy Kendle (16), Kevin White (14) and captain Chris Hogan (13) also scored in double figures for the Braves in what was their fourth game in eight days.
Sunday’s win backed up Saturday night’s 81-58 road victory against Frankston for the Braves, who are now 10-3.
The Braves were never headed against the Blues, gaining the early ascendancy when they led 23-9 at quarter-time.
In what was another even offensive spread, the Braves again had four of their starters score in double figures – Kendle (21), Johnson (16), Matthew Andronicos (15) and White (13).
Meanwhile, new import Chante Black made an immediate impact for the Bendigo Lady Braves as they recorded their highest score of the season in a 92-79 win at Frankston on Saturday.
In her first game for the Lady Braves, Black scorched the Blues for 28 points and 11 rebounds in an imposing performance.
Kelly Wilson also starred with 27 points, eight rebounds and seven assists as she again spent all 40 minutes on court for the fifth time in her eight games this season.
Keely Froling combined 16 points with nine rebounds, while Jane Chalmers chipped in with 13 points – including three three pointers – as the Lady Braves improved to 5-4.