Tara Murray
The Whittlesea Pacers will use the heartbreak of Saturday’s Big V men’s division 2 grand final loss to drive it further in the future.
The top team throughout the season, the Pacers met their match in the Altona Gators.
The only side to beat them in the regular season, the Gators snuck home in the semi final to get the first grand final spot.
The two teams were back at it on Saturday at Altona in the grand final. Just like the past two matches, it went down to the final possession of the game.
After a stunning third quarter, the Gators were able to hold on to win, 97-94.
Pacers coach Des Radoslovic said a lot went right for them on the night, but in the end they ran out of legs.
“I’m proud of the boys,” he said. “They [Altona] had an exceptional third quarter and unbelievable shot making.
“Their import came out and scored 20 in the quarter and we tried different things and he’s making them from further back.
“One of my best guards hurt his quad and could hardly play and my point guard is in foul trouble.
“We kept fighting and fighting and pushed it down to the last possession but ran out of steam when it counted.”
Radoslovic said they started the game how they would have liked and blew the margin out to double figures multiple times in the first half.
He said they thought they still had the game on their terms in the third quarter, when the Gators were making their massive run.
The Pacers scored just one field goal in the first five minutes of the third quarter that would prove costly.
“They had some unbelievable shot making and we were still almost playing our way,” he said.
“They had talent out there putting up points and we ended up curtailing that in the end but ran out of legs.”
The Pacers trailed by double figures in the last quarter and in the end it would go down to the final possession.
Needing a three to tie the game and send it to over time, the Pacers weren’t able to get a shot off.
The Pacers had four players score in double figures, led by Jason Dirkx with 19 points.
Gabe Evans put up 15 points despite struggling to run for much of the game.
“We had a physio taping him up on the bench to try and get it [his quad] firing and we couldn’t get it firing,” Radoslovic said.
“It wasn’t even cramping he couldn’t push off that leg. He tried to give everything he could and he couldn’t give any more.
“He is a machine and keeps going and going all season but unfortunately in that second quarter he got that hit.”
While disappointed in the end result, Radoslovic said they would take a lot of positives out of the season.
It was Radoslovic’s first season back at the club.
“Paul [Hughes] and I came into this club, to rebuild the foundations and have a platform of success going into the future,” he said.
“Yes, this is going to hurt like hell but the foundation that we’ve laid and the culture we have set and the position the club is in.
“All three sides making grand finals from where we were, we’ll look back at this in years to come and this will be the platform for our success in the future, engaging the juniors again and filling up the standards
“We’ll us it to drive us next season”
