There were mixed results as the senior Horsham Hornets began their Country Basketball League South-West campaigns at the weekend.
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It was the perfect return for the women's side, who trekked to Terang to play the Tornadoes on Saturday night.
The Hornets made light work of their counterparts as they cruised to a 102-50 victory.
Points were spread across the board for the visitors, led by Emalie Iredell (23 points), Georgia Hiscock (23) and Faith McKenzie (21).
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Unfortunately, the men's Hornets couldn't replicate the result against the Colac Kookas away on Sunday afternoon.
The young Hornets side was far from embarrassed against a formidable Kookas side, who reaped the benefits of playing their first game the day before.
At the third change, the Hornets were well in it at 57-64. However, the Kookas' experience shone through, and they ran away with an 84-70 win.
Hornets men's coach Scott Benbow said the group was "disappointed but not disheartened" by the result.
"It's a brand new side, it's a young side with a new coach," Benbow said.
"We're finding our way. We pushed them, and Colac will be a decent side this year. They've got some pretty experienced players there, and that was probably the difference.
"They played on Saturday night, so they got their first game out of the way, so they got rid of their first game nerves, and they ironed out a few things.
"I thought we looked pretty good in patches. It's just experience and at the crucial parts of the game we probably rushed our offence just a bit."
18-year-old Sam Breuer played nicely to lead the Hornets scorers with 20 points, while captain Mitch Martin and Cody Bryan added 17 points each.
Matt Lovel, in game 150 for the Hornets, also added seven points.
"Cody Bryan was unbelievable," Benbow said.
"He was outstanding because he played on Jordan Lingard. He's a quality player, and he did a really solid job on him defensively and pushed him. Sam and Mitch had patches where they were brilliant and other times where they probably rushed it just a touch.
"As a team we probably let ourselves down with three or four minutes towards the end of the third quarter, where they got a jump on us in the lead and we just couldn't peg that back."
It's not all doom and gloom for the side, who will learn a lot from the loss.
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"We talked about it after the game and they all realise where they can improve," Benbow said.
"The loss is probably more on me because I was trying to find my way.
"I watched a bit of video on the way home and a video last night. The guys will watch it too and we'll talk about it tomorrow night and we'll action it. We're gonna be fine."
The Hornets ladies' and men's next game is on December 11 against the Warrnambool Seahawks in Warrnambool.
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