Top gun shoots down Cranbourne Cavaliers

By Justin Robertson
CRANBOURNE Cavaliers had no answer for the league’s best shooter, Kevin Smith, as they crashed to a 21-point loss in Mildura on Sunday.
Despite the 94-73 loss, Cavs coach Cory Smith remained upbeat about his team’s performance.
“We were pretty happy with the way we played,” Smith said. “We just couldn’t do anything to stop Kevin Smith. The boys played him exactly how I wanted to play him but he wouldn’t miss.”
Trailing 46-32 at half-time, Smith said his team still believed they were in with a chance of winning the ball game. But as the game wore on, the Cavs could not restrict Mildura’s Smith as the hot-hand racked up a staggering 52 points – at 75 per cent – and 16 rebounds.
“He was shooting tough shots all the time, all through the game, and it seemed the ring was about three times as big as it normally was for him,” Smith said.
“It was just one of those days, I guess. We actually had a better percentage on Sunday and more points than Saturday’s game, but there’s not much you can do about it.”
Confronting the Cavs at three-quarter-time was a 17-point deficit, which became too much to handle for the away team, but Smith said they could hold their heads high for being competitive.
One of the youngest Cavs, Jayden McMillin (22 points, six rebounds) played the whole time on Smith and still managed to score and keep the Cavs in the game.
“He did an unbelievable job,” Smith said. “He was really good for us.”
Jonathon Hawes also had an impact defensively (7, 9), which pleased Smith, while Andrew Cotton (17,7) chipped in offensively.
“Hawes has been going OK,” he said. “We’re slowly getting him to do what we want him to do.”
Smith also sung the praises of captain Mark Holman, Justin McMillin and Matthew Orchard who all made valuable contributions during the game.
On Saturday night the Cranbourne Cavaliers almost pinched a win off league leaders Mildura, losing 70-62 inside the final minute of the game.
The Cavs nullified Mildura’s hired gun, Kevin Smith, who scored 24 points for the game.
Smith said it was a game they came close to winning.
“We are very unlucky not to grab it and get a win,” he said. “We put a fair bit of effort into that game and played Kevin Smith really well; he’s the main guy in the whole league at the moment.”
Keeping pace with Mildura early on (19-16), the Cavs got within four points by the three-quarter-time break and at 48-52, they were in with a chance to steal the win.
But an 18-14 final quarter by Mildura killed off any hopes of a Cavs win, even after a small and brief lead by the visitors.
Smith said his side would have to win every game from here on in to have any chance at playing finals.
“If the boys apply themselves like the way they have over the past three matches, there is no reason why we can’t win every game,” he said.
“But, we have Melton this week and hopefully we can have another good game and give them a scare, too.”