THE Horsham Hornets have come away with a big win in the Country Basketball League South West conference, dominating Hamilton on their home court on Saturday night.
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Young gun Jeremiah McKenzie put on a show for the home crowd, showing every aspect of a skill set that has taken him to Victoria Country selection.
Horsham found early buckets thanks largely to experienced heads Matt Lovel and Tim Pickert, but the side struggled on defence as Hamilton also scored with ease.
Lovel dominated inside the paint in the first quarter, while McKenzie was also prolific early, and caused Hamilton problems with his agility and size.
Hamilton’s Harry Waters showed some good signs as the side remained within reaching distance of the Hornets in the first quarter and start of the second, before Horsham pulled away.
The Hornets’ speed and skill inside the paint proved too much with the Hornets opening up a 17-point lead at the half.
The basketball was slightly scrappy from both sides at the start of the third but the Hornets’ lead was out to 20 points half-way through the term.
Horsham’s fast breaks and some pacey play from McKenzie, highlighted with a skilful Euro step in the third term, put the game beyond Hamilton’s grasp.
By the end of the third term the game was wrapped up for Horsham as the side led by 39 points. Hamilton cut the lead in the opening stages of the last term, with Horsham winning 98-63. McKenzie and Lovel top scored with 23 points.
Coach Cam Bruce said after a slow start the team clicked in the second half.
“We seem to be starting games slowly as a team and we let them do whatever they wanted,” he said.
“After that we turned it up and really came good after half-time. We started playing defence and our pressure was really good.”
Bruce praised the efforts of Jeremiah McKenzie.
“He has really taken his game up to another level this season,” Bruce said.
