The men’s match was an enthralling display. The Mavericks pushed Norwood all the way, with the difference no more than 8 at any break, the Flames managed to hold their nose in front to take the game by 6 points 85-91.

Last time the men’s teams met it was ex-Maverick Ed Millard and Matthew Lycett who won it for the Flames with a combined 50 points, both would be sitting this one out with Achilles injuries, leaving the door open for the Mavericks to find their first win of the season.

After a quick tip off to the Flames and 1 point from a shooting foul, Stuart Breheny opened the scoring for Eastern with back to back baskets. They traded the lead as Norwood’s Keith Krause made a basket, Curtis Scipio got a backcourt steal and a layup for the Mavs, Krause responded with a three pointer and Nicholas Heim evened the scores at 8 all. Krause again put the Flames in front, but Haydn Barns got on the board to keep it level. Daniel Webber then took over for Norwood as he went basket for basket with Breheny before scoring the final 6 points of the quarter, the difference at the first break, and the same margin that the Flames would hold at the final siren.

The second term continued the struggle as Dillon Ford and Andrew Webber made 8 each for the Flames, Shane Breheny and Barns had 10 and 9 for Eastern as all four players scored from behind the arc for their teams. With an early run the Mavericks hit the lead off Shane Breheny’s first from downtown, Ford responded with one of his own, Breheny got another after Daniel Lean drew a foul and dished him the ball from the sideline, but Ford again clawed the lead back for Norwood with another three pointer.

A mid-term run saw the Flames push the margin out to 11, but the Mavericks came home strong with 10 points to 5, tying the quarter. With the teams evenly matched in most stats, Norwood had the edge through offensive rebounds and assists, giving them an easier time of scoring.
The third quarter tipped back and forth as Eastern closed to within a single basket on three occasions, it was Andrew Webber who steadied them twice with another 2 from beyond the arc. Norwood were employing a full court press, trying to pressure turnovers, it led to some interesting opportunities as Shane Breheny launched the ball full court to his brother Stuart in the key. After Nick Sbroiavacca took a charge late in the quarter on the defensive end Shane Breheny had them within 2 points at the other, but another 6 last minute points including a layup on the buzzer from Matthew Long had the difference out to 8 at the last break.

The Flames came out in the last with an 8-2 run, giving them their largest lead of the game 14 points with 6 minutes to play. Easterns guards Scipio and Lean mounted a late comeback, each with three pointers and a flurry of assists that allowed Barns and Shane Breheny to rack up 5 points each.  Shane Breheny scored from downtown with under 2 minutes left, and Scipio followed up with a three point attempt that would have tied the game. Credit the winning basket to Ford who drilled one from three point land in quick transition to push the buffer back to 6. It was too late for the Mavs, Norwood took the game by 6 points, the extra 11 offensive rebounds the crucial factor in the end for the Flames.

Eastern Mavericks 85 (Scipio 22, Barns 19, Sh. Breheny 16, St. Breheny 13) defeated by Norwood Flames 91 (D. Webber 18, Ford 16, A. Webber 16, Krause 12).
This weekend’s CABL games will see the Eastern Mavericks host the West Adelaide Bearcats at Mt Barker. Women’s tip off is 1:15pm Sunday, the men will follow at 3pm

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By Lachlan Eggers