Hume City Broncos look set to play finals for the first time since 2010 in Big V state championship men’s basketball.
Before last weekend’s round, coach Lanard Copeland refused to talk about finals until it was 100 per cent certain his side would be there, even though only a minor disaster would see them fall out of the top six.
The Broncos’ 94-79 win over Bulleen Boomers on Saturday night puts them in fifth spot with three games left.
Eltham would need to win its remaining three matches and the Broncos lose their last three for them to miss the finals.
Finals are something Copeland is familiar with.
“I played for a long time with the Melbourne Tigers [in the NBL] and only missed playing finals once,” he said.
“I’m used to the post-season, where some of the players aren’t.
“It is motivation for the players having not been there to make the finals and win games.”
The Broncos aren’t just happy with trying to sneak into the top six; they want fourth spot and home-court advantage in the first round of finals.
The last time the Broncos held home-court advantage for a best-of-three finals was the 2004 grand final, which they won.
“We’re aiming for fourth spot and if we can win our remaining games and McKinnon drops a couple of games against the top sides we can finish in that spot,” Copeland said.
“The games we have left are very winnable.”
But Copeland said the side would have to overcome its erratic form to clinch fourth place.
“If we’re serious that we want to play in big finals we need to be focused every game,” he said.
Copeland said the experience of the team’s veteran players would come into play at this end of the season and he was using every opportunity to remind them that “every minute counts”.
Copeland said the range of shooters would be a vital component on the run home.
On Saturday night it was Lee Jeka who had the hot hand, shooting 34 points including seven three-pointers.
Copeland said finals success would not come down to the best skills.
“Players need to use their smarts,” he said. “All teams are equal; it’s about them using their brains. We lost eight or nine straight last season as the boys weren’t thinking.”
While the Broncos will play finals, the Pacers remain two games outside the top eight after losing to Eltham and McKinnon at the weekend.
The Broncos women’s side suffered a shock 57-49 loss to Bulleen in state championship on Saturday, its second loss for the season. Colleen Planeta and Samara Gallaher top -scored with 17 points each. Despite the loss, the Broncos remain on top of the ladder.
