Cavaliers beat streak

By Ben Hope
THE Cranbourne Cavaliers broke their three-game losing streak on Saturday with a convincing win against the Maccabi Warriors at Bialik Stadium.
The Warriors were looking to make it two for two after their win against fourth-placed Warrandyte but the Cavaliers were more determined to get some points on the board after failing to win a game since their round one debut with Pakenham.
Cranbourne Cavaliers head coach Cory Smith said the team finally broke its losing streak after a week of intense training.
“We had a big week at training and did a lot of hard work. I think it helped. We had been a bit relaxed the last few weeks,” Smith said.
As usual, the Cavaliers started slow, ending the first quarter down by 10 points 24-14 in what looked like more of the same for the visitors. However, the hard work in training paid off and Cranbourne side rallied early to begin to making up the ground in the second quarter.
“It was a really good game. We started slow as usual but by the second quarter we changed a few things and picked up the intensity,” Smith said.
“The slow starts are still an issue we will be working on but we have already begun to come together with more talk and encouragement across the team.”
Captain Mark Holman led the Cavaliers charge and his team rallied before the half-time buzzer with 20 points in reply to seven from the Warriors.
After half-time the Cavaliers extended their three-point lead even further leading in the final quarter 64-43.
“We all worked together and ran the ball as a team with better handling and less turn overs,” Smith said.
“The team is finally listening to the coaches and doing what we are asking them to. Hopefully they have figured out that what we are teaching them can actually work.”
Maintaining the pressure right up to the buzzer the Cavaliers celebrated a well-earned win, 86-66.
Justin Mcmillin (20), Andrew Cotton (14) and Jonathan Hawes (13) all put the points on the board for the Cavaliers with Dane Mawdsley playing his best game of the season with almost 30 minutes in the centre position. It was Luke Goldstein who kept the Warriors in the game with 18 points and 16 boards.
Next weekend the Cavaliers will look for a win against Darebin at home at the Cranbourne Basketball Stadium.