By JARROD POTTER
BACK on the winner’s list after a horror last month, the Casey Cavaliers men claimed a crucial 69-56 win.
All square at half time 36-36, the Cavaliers pulled away in the second half with their bench chipping in crucial points and rebounds.
With big men Dean Johnson (10 points) and Ash Szalek getting into foul trouble, and eventually both fouled off, Cavaliers coach Stewart Baird put his faith in Pouch Pouc (eight points, nine rebounds) and Sean McKinnon (three points, six rebounds).
The pair excelled against Western Port’s talls to great success.
Stephen Michalski (13 points, two rebounds) set the example and captained his side towards victory.
“It was overdue,” Casey coach Baird said about the win. “Wasn’t brilliant but it was very much back to the early part of the season and we kept them to a low score and took the win.”
Baird praised his bench talls Pouc and McKinnon in what proved to be match-winning roles in the front-court.
“The two bigs were in foul trouble and Pouch was on the floor, who was getting his hand on passes with his long reach and did a fantastic job.”
“We relied on Pouch and Sean McKinnon and did a really good job of making it difficult for them.”
Casey gets back into positive territory on the ladder – sitting fifth with a 5-4 record and it faces Shepparton on Saturday at home in the last of the Cavaliers’ triple-header.
Cavaliers’ women had a walk-over win against Western Port – snaring a comfortable 84-49 win to retain third spot in the Big V Division 2 competition.
Keira Beswick (20 points, 11 rebounds) rubbed salt into the Steelers wounds – dominating on court for her new team after leaving Western Port at the end of last season.
“She was pretty focused,” Casey coach Mark Holman said. “Makes a bit of a statement and we went to her pretty early. Gave her a bit more time in there and in 23 minutes they were phenomenal.”
Holman was pleased with a roster-wide contribution from his charges – all Cavaliers getting on the board with points and rebound.
“Everyone contributed across the board – decent minutes and everybody came on and did things to contribute,” Holman said.
In a move that will terrify the Cavaliers’ Big V opposition, last season’s MVP Renae Mokrzycki returns from college duties to suit up for the first time against Blackburn on Saturday night.
“We’ll see her at training on Thursday and we have a home game on Saturday,” Holman said.
“She’ll be a great addition and we’re looking forward to getting her back … she’s a player who’s Casey through and through.”
Tipoff for the first of the triple-header is 4.30pm at Cranbourne Basketball Stadium.
