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IT MIGHT only be week four in a long SEABL season, but Bendigo Braves coach Ben Harvey is expecting his side’s clash at Mount Gambier on Friday night to have a finals-type atmosphere.
The Braves head across the border handily placed at 2-0 following last weekend’s come-from-behind win against Hobart Chargers.
Played at Bendigo Stadium, the Braves trailed by six points at half time after conceding a massive 39 second quarter points, but steadied to win 92-88.
In what will be Braves co-captain Chris Hogan’s 400th SEABL game, Harvey said his side could ill-afford to have a poor quarter like last week against the Pioneers, who have won three of the past four national championships.
Adding to the coach’s sense of urgency, the Braves have not won a game against the Pioneers in Mount Gambier since 2013.
“They are a well-coached team – they have been in the finals the last five years and won three championships,” Harvey said.
“We’ve been close many times. I have no doubt we can get a win there, but it’s going to take four consistent quarters.
“If we let them have a strong run like we did against Hobart it will be extremely hard to come from that far down in Mount Gambier.
“I don’t want to be in that situation, but we will be prepared.
“Mount Gambier has lost one game (out of three) this year, but they are just a tough team and the ultimate challenge.”
The clash between the league’s 2016 grand final rivals will be the first of four games for the Braves over the next nine days.
They play Albury-Wodonga Bandits in Bendigo on Sunday followed by back-to-back clashes with Basketball Australia Centre of Excellence and Canberra Gunners next Friday and Saturday.
Harvey said it would be an exciting night for Hogan, who was a teammate of his in the Braves’ 2005 championship and coached by him in the 2016 title win.
“Four hundred games for our club, what an outstanding achievement - it couldn’t happen to a better guy,” he said.
“He played all his junior basketball with the Braves and is just a great role model for our kids.
“He’s put in so much hard work over so long and I am so glad he is playing this year because I think he is such a big part of what we are as a club.
“Hopefully the boys can step up for him.”
Pioneers coach Richard Hill believed his injury-stricken side had recovered well to be 2-1 after losing their opening round match against Geelong Supercats.
Both of their wins have been on their home court at the Icehouse, where the defending champions have rarely lost in the past five seasons.
Hill said he again expected the Braves to be a formidable opponent.
“Obviously Jeremy Kendle is a very, very good player and Ray Turner I know,” he said.
“We looked at Ray a number of times as an import and have followed him closely – he is a good pick up for the Braves.
“Ben has got a similar team to the one he had when they won the championship, but has brought in Indiana (Faithfull) to replace Kevin White.
“That gives them the same sort of look, which no doubt makes them a very good team.”