Hume City was unable to come away with a win in the Big V Men’s state championship at the weekend, despite matching it with the top two teams.
The Broncos started the weekend against Ringwood on Saturday night coming agonisingly close in a high-scoring affair, 103-101.
Both teams shot above 49 per cent from the field, but the Broncos were let down by their free throws, making just 11 of 22 attempts.
In the weekend’s second game, the Broncos recovered from a slow start to get within one point of Corio Bay in the third quarter but fell away to lose 93-82. Broncos coach Lanard Copeland said while it was disappointing to lose both games, he was pleased with how his side went about things.
“We started off the season 5-1 and played many of the newer teams who had come up from division 1,’’ he said.
‘‘I felt we really hadn’t been tested.
“You have to take the positives, and we were able to play against these guys who have played together for a number of years and be in both games.’’
Copeland said three of the Broncos’ starters hadn’t played a lot of basketball together.
“I feel comfortable that once we jell together we will play even better basketball.”
Jamal Brown hit 42 points in the weekend’s opening game.
“He has been unstoppable,’’ Copeland said. ‘‘We have shooters from the perimeter so they have to watch them, so it makes it hard to stop Jamal in the inside.
“In the second game they watched the tape of the night before and really focused on him. Most times, JB will have a good game, but we have more shooting weapons than just him.”
Shaun Prendergast top-scored with 23 .
In other games, Whittlesea lost in a close one to Corio Bay by two points, 71-69. The Stingrays started the better of the two teams and took a 13-point lead into half-time.
The Pacers reduced the margin by four points in the third term and closed out the final term 22-13, but it wasn’t enough. Jermaine Williams scored 21 points and 10 rebounds for the Pacers.
In state championship women’s division, the Broncos let a three-quarter-time lead slip to go down to Diamond Valley, 63-60.
