By Tara Murray
An undermanned Bacchus Marsh Lions sealed their finals berth in the Country Basketball League north-west competition.
Missing a number of key players, including leaders Billy Feben and Jordan Kirk, the Lions left it to the last second to seal the win against the Mildura Heat, 58-57.
Lions coach Jeff Feben said the win showed the depth within the squad.
“We were short our core group of players, but the group really took to the task and worked hard defensively.
“We were behind all game and the plan was to try and stick with them all game and give it a shot in the final quarter.
“We were seven down at one point in the last quarter and we kept working.
“We got a fast break late and Max [Beaumont] went up and finished it under pressure to win the game.
“It was right on the buzzer, I wasn’t sure if it had counted. It was an excited group of players and coaches.”
Feben said the most pleasing thing was seeing players step up and take the chances when they got them.
Sam Byron and Jake Raynor played well as the Lions tested two bigs on the court at the same time for the first time this season.
Tyler Collins, who scored a career high 11 points for the Lions, was another who stepped up.
“Tyler came on and provided some valuable points,” Feben said. “He really gave us something and gave us pressure.”
Byron top scored with 17 points, while Beaumont, who came up big in the last quarter, scored 14 points.
Feben said the biggest improvement for the Lions in the back half of the season, had been the development of their list.
He said they would have some headaches over who to give time on court for the rest of the season.
The win is enough for Bacchus Marsh to secure a finals spot, with one match remaining.
Feben said they were aiming for a top two spot.
He said it was a close competition an
