By Tara Murray
Bacchus Marsh Lions are feeling comfortable in the Country Basketball League south-west men’s competition.
In the side’s first season, it was always going to take some time to figure out where it fits.
Lions co-coach Jeff Feben reckons his Lions are in the top bracket of sides.
“Looking at some of the results, we’re seeing four or five teams that are really good,” he said.
“Mt Gambier is looking really strong and Bellarine looks like a team that may be able to take it to them.
“Geelong is a quality side and Horsham is still fairly strong. We’re sitting just below a couple of the better sides. We’re delighted to be 3-2, having played some of the good teams.”
The Lions split their weekend road trip down the highway.
On Saturday night, they lost to Bellarine Storm.
Feben said the Storm, which won 93-84, was strong team with a good mix of youth and experience.
“They have a lot of depth on their bench,” he said.
“We were missing a couple of our bigger boys, which didn’t help. The scoreboard flattered us. For most of the game we were down by 20 points and we came back late when we went full press and got a couple of cheap ones.”
Billy Feben top-scored with 31 points and Jordan Kirk scored 17.
On Sunday, the Lions faced Geelong Supercats, who had a win against the Terang Tornadoes on Saturday night.
The match against the Supercats was the Lions’ closest of the season.
The Lions won 85-79, but Jeff Feben said they were pushed all the way.
“Geelong are a relatively young, pretty fast side,” he said.
“We had to scrap to be in front and then win the game.
“The result was always in question. We had a win against some quality opposition when we were tested.”
Billy Feben was again the stand-out, scoring 34 points. His father said he had scored early on to get the scoreboard ticking over.
Kirk scored 16 points, while Darcy McMillan chipped in with 18.
Jeff Feben said it was good to see McMillan step up and make the most of his opportunities.
“He’s been struggling for minutes,” the coach said. “I’ve been saying to him, ‘Give me a reason to leave you out there’. He did that.
“It’s nice for the others to see if they come ready they can force us to leave them out there.”
The Lions this week face the Ararat RedBacks.
They will have to tackle them without Billy Feben, who is unavailable.
Jeff Feben said it would be a good opportunity for other players to step up.
