Hume City Broncos’ up-and-down Big V State Championship men’s season continued at the weekend.
The Broncos have struggled to find consistency at both ends of the court and it’s shown in their results.
On Saturday night, in guard Shaun Prendergast’s 250th game, they lost to Werribee Devils 103-90.
A poor second quarter 23-13 cost the Broncos and they were never able to recover.
Backing up on Sunday, the Broncos just held off Blackburn Vikings.
The Broncos’ defence was brilliant in the middle two quarters, restricting the Vikings to just 17 points.
The Broncos took a 21-point lead into the final quarter and they needed it.
Outscored 30-13, the Broncos nevertheless held on to win 79-75.
Mike Rose was the stand-out in both games for the Broncos, scoring 28 and 21.
The results leave the Broncos sitting 4-6.
Speaking before the weekend’s matches, Broncos coach Kelvin Bowers said “up and down” was the best way to describe their start to the season.
“It started in the first game in the loss to Hawthorn,” he said. “It unsettled us. We’ve not been able to find consistency at both ends. We’ve been in all the games except one.”
Bowers said the players were taking the challenge of playing consistent basketball head-on.
“No one is quitting,” he said. “We’ve got all the resources, we just have to put it all together.
“We’re training twice a week and making some changes to put us back in the race.”
Bowers said decisions at both ends of the court were hurting them – and for that he had to take some responsibility.
“Some things need to change and I need to lead these changes,” he said.
“We are not gelling as we should be and we had a false sense of serenity after the pre-season.
“We’re not on the same page and aren’t trusting each other. We have to have belief on both ends of the court.”
While disappointed the results haven’t fallen their way, Bowers has been impressed with the way a couple of the new players are fitting in.
Jah Soloai has slotted into the starting line-up, while Bowers said Deng Kuany would be a big factor once he was 100 per cent healthy.
The Broncos’ women’s side also had a tough weekend, losing to Waverley Falcons on Sunday.
The Falcons got the jump in the first quarter to lead by 10 points and eventually won 74-67.
Viv Saad top-scored for the Broncos with 19 points.
