Traralgon secured top spot on the Gippsland Country Basketball League ladder with a 93-55 win over the Lakes Entrance at the Lakes Entrance Youth and Recreation Centre last Saturday night in final round action.
Ben Barlow (23 points) and Zac Bezzina (22) were unstoppable as the T-Birds booked a home semi final against Warragul, while Pakenham will host Maffra in the other semi.
The Pelicans went in the game keen to register its fourth win of the campaign, which had been coach Andrew Wright’s pre-season goal, but it wasn’t to be, even with another energetic home crowd rallying behind them.
Angus Murdoch (12) opened the scoring with a three pointer before Traralgon kicked into gear, jumping out to a 21-5 advantage in the first quarter before Lakes Entrance rallied to cut the deficit to nine points by quarter time.
Key Pelican big man Massimo Hobbs (11) was in foul trouble with three fouls before the first quarter ended, which made the job tougher for Wright.
Coach Wright demanded more defensive intensity in the second quarter and the Pelicans responded by scoring the first four points, reducing the deficit to just five, the closest they would get for the rest of the game.
With a very short-handed outfit the T-Birds struggled to maintain their early dominance and the Pelicans were finding ways to score to remain in the contest and trailed by just eight points at half time after the gallant
Pelicans outscored them for the term.
While Traralgon didn’t have it all their own way throughout the first half, a 16-point explosion to open the third period gave the visitors breathing space and momentum to kick-start the second half, coach Wright called a timeout to regroup but the T-Birds continued to dominate, finishing the period with a commanding 23-point lead.
The final quarter offered little relief for the Pelicans, as they struggled to find the basket.
T-Bird’s Jarrod King-Church, who produced a season-high 20 points, scored nine straight points for the visitors to push the lead beyond 30 points early in the fourth period.
Xavier Martin provided a bright spot, sinking his first three-pointer on home court in just his third game, however with a few minutes remaining, high humidity made the court conditions unsafe, prompting officials and coaches to call the game with two minutes left on the clock.
Despite the tough loss, coach Wright expressed immense pride in his team’s performance throughout 2024.
The Pelicans wrapped up their most successful season to date, recording three wins and pulling off a memorable upset against the Maffra Eagles earlier in the season.
The support from the junior Pelicans was a highlight of the final game, with their enthusiasm and energy filling the stadium.
After the match the youngsters eagerly lined up for autographs and photos with the players, creating a special moment for both fans and the team.
It was a season to remember for the Lakes Entrance Pelicans, who continue to inspire their fans and set the foundation for even greater success in the future.
