Echuca Pirates have endured a tough return to competition following the bye in the Country Basketball League, falling to Maryborough and Bendigo in a double-header at the weekend.
Taking on Maryborough at Echuca Basketball Stadium on Saturday night, the Pirates made a positive start, keeping in touch with the Blazers to trail 19-20 at the end of the first quarter.
The home side turned a deficit into a lead at half-time, winning the term 23-21 to reverse the quarter-time margin to enter the main break ahead by a single point.
But after an encouraging opening half, the third quarter saw the Pirates let the lead slip, as the visitors surged ahead courtesy of a 30-18 quarter, taking an 11-point advantage into the final term.
Echuca could not recover any of the momentum it had sustained for the first half as the game progressed, suffering through a 10-32 final term to eventually go down 70-103.
Staci Richardson and Charlie O’Toole were the only two in double figures for the Pirates, with 14 and 10 points, respectively, while Maryborough’s Zac Dunmore proved a force with 36 points of his own.
The was no rest for the Pirates, who were straight back on the road on Sunday, travelling to Bendigo to take on the Braves at Red Energy Arena.
A tight first term saw the Pirates trail by three points, 14-17, yet as they did against Maryborough, thePirates found another gear in the second quarter, winning the term 21-12 and powering to a six-point lead at the half.
A disappointing third term, however, saw Echuca give up the lead once again, outscored by 11 points to enter the final term five points behind the Braves.
The see-sawing encounter had one final twist, as the Pirates managed to win the final term, but by only two points, meaning Bendigo came away with the win, 75-72.
Richardson led Echuca in points scored for a second consecutive game, putting up a game-high 18, while coach Dylan Payne and Lachlan Tenace weren’t far behind, with 17 and 16, respectively.
Losing both matches in the double-header has delivered a big blow to Echuca’s finals chances, with the side sitting ninth on the ladder, three wins behind fourth-placed Melton with only three games remaining.
The Pirates will take to the court for another double-header this weekend, hosting Swan Hill at Echuca Basketball Stadium on Saturday night, before travelling to Cobblebank Stadium to take on Melton on Sunday afternoon.
Echuca Pirates vs Maryborough Blazers
Score
Echuca: 19, 23, 18, 10 (70)
Maryborough: 20, 21, 30, 32 (103)
Points
Echuca: Staci Richardson 14, Charlie O’Toole 10, Lachlan Tenace 9, Max Hagan 8, Dylan Payne 8, Ben Dri 5, James Hipwell 3, William Hipwell 3, Riley Hutton 3, Regan Smith 3, Mitchell Markby 2, Tanner Smith 2
Maryborough: Zac Dunmore 36, Darcy Bond 22, Bailey Jacobs 13, Lachlan Drummond 10, Tyson Iglesias 8, Lochlan Oellering 8, Brady Neill 6
Echuca Pirates vs Bendigo Braves
Score
Echuca: 14, 21, 18, 19 (72)
Bendigo: 17, 12, 29, 17 (75)
Points
Echuca: Staci Richardson 18, Dylan Payne 17, Lachlan Tenace 16, Mitchell Markby 11, Tanner Smith 4, Max Hagan 3, Charlie O’Toole 2, Riley Hutton 1
Bendigo: Isaac Murphy 16, Aiden Mundy 13, Liam O’Brien 12, Isaac Fofana 9, Mitchell Goodwin 9, Lachlan O’Brien 8, Casey Wills 5, Darcy Lawler 3