After a disastrous start to the Big V state championship season, the Whittlesea Pacers are hanging in there.
Seven straight losses all but ended the Pacers’ finals hopes before the season was even halfway through.
They won their next two matches, but on Saturday night tasted defeat again, losing 86-77 to Ringwood.
There was only two points difference at the last break but, not for the first time this season, the Pacers couldn’t find the basket in the dying minutes.
Chris Kaba top-scored for the Pacers with 25 points, while Lincoln Garfirth chipped in with 20.
Pacers’ coach Ross Moll said the side was finally finding some poise after a slow start.
“If we had two or three of those early games again, we’d probably do things differently,” he said.
“We weren’t good enough and should have done better. It’s about holding our nerve and having a little bit better execution.”
He said individuals were starting to blossom.
He said Garfirth, who is averaging 13 points, did a really good job against Corio Bay’s Jason Reardon defensively and was making an impact on the scoreboard.
“Damian O’Keefe came off the bench against Corio Bay and got five of seven three-point attempts in 13 minutes,” Moll said. “He grabbed his opportunity … the challenge is for him to be more consistent.”
He said youth league players Aiden Zeverona and Jack Petrucelle are thriving being around the senior set-up.
The Pacers just missed finals the past two years, and they’re not currently on the agenda for this season.
“We still are not looking that far ahead,” Moll said. “We’re taking each game as it comes doing what we need to do.”
The Pacers women’s side remains winless after a massive defeat at the hands of Ringwood.
Scores were level at the first break, but the Hawks blew the game open in the second quarter with a 25-5 term.
It was much the same for the rest of the game, with the Hawks winning 90-49. Trudy Armstead top-scored for the Pacers with 12.
