HORSHAM Lady Hornets have set themselves up beautifully for finals success with a crucial win against Mt Gambier on Saturday night.
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The Lakers were second on the ladder going into the match, but the Hornets’ triumph means they skip ahead of them into second place.
The weekend included a double-header of matches which saw the Hornets take on Portland on Sunday afternoon.
The match was still in progress when the Mail-Times went to print.
Speaking on Sunday morning ahead of their clash against the ladder-leaders, Lady Hornets coach Gareth Hiscock said the win against Mt Gambier gave the side confidence.
“We played some really good basketball in patches,” he said.
“We spoke about how important this weekend was. Results are very important to try to get a home final.”
The Hornets jumped out of the blocks to take a 10-point lead into quarter time, but the Lakers clawed their way back into the contest, squaring the ledger at 41-apiece at the final change.
But the Hornets charged to a nine-point advantage midway through the final stanza before holding off a determined Lakers side 62-57.
“Sharon Fedke shot 19 points and Ally Hiscock was our starting point guard,” Hiscock said.
“Those two were both very good offensively.”
The Lady Hornets are hoping to tighten up in the back half of their court in the lead-up to finals.
“We’re still tinkering with our defence so that’s what we’re trying to get right,” Hiscock said.
The men’s Hornets side did not have as much luck in its match against the Lakers, going down by 10 points.
Horsham led by five points at the first change, but were out-played from that point on, trailing by three at half-time and eventually going down 69-59.
Matt Lovel netted 15 points to top-score for the home side, while Michael O’Callaghan chimed in with 13.
Sam Stafford and Dellon Brown were prolific for the Mt Gambier side.
The loss left the Hornets clinging to fourth spot going into their Sunday afternoon clash with fifth-placed Portland.