Not much from the Ringwood Hawks game against the Bendigo Braves on Sunday will make the seasons highlight’s tape, but the Hawks showed grit and determination to get over the line against the more fancied opposition.

In a game that was promoting the “Outside the Locker Room” mental health program, the Hawks looked like their mind was elsewhere early in the game. The Braves built a lead as the Hawks were relying on the shooting of Jacob Gibson who nailed 11 points in the opening quarter.

 

Jacob Gibson was flying before a knee injury ended his day against Bendigo.
(Kath Miles Photo)

Early in the second quarter as the Hawks were clawing their way back in the game, disaster struck as Gibson limped off the court with a knee injury and was ruled out for the remainder of the game. To their credit, Matt Fennell, Adrien Sturt and Joey Miller stepped up and kept the Hawks close coming in to the final quarter.

Despite trailing for most of the contest, a Fennell three pointer with 7 minutes left in the game put the Hawks in front for the first time since the first quarter. Nathan Truman and Trevor Latham both stepped at the defensive end of the floor as the Braves offense dried up. Bendigo tried to shoot their way back in to the contest but their 4/32 from the three point line proved to be the difference.

“That was a great win for us without having Jacob for most of the game.” Hawks Assistant Coach Mark Sutton said.

“To keep a team like Bendigo to 68 points was a great effort and the boys deserved this win.”

The win is just reward for the Hawks who have had a horror run with injuries and player unavailability. Sunday’s game was the first time since round 2 that they had all of their player in uniform and ready to go. Hopefully the Gibson injury is not serious, but the NBL1 competition takes a break for the Queen’s Birthday weekend so Gibson has extra time to recover.

The Hawks will next take the court on Sunday 16th June against the Waverley Falcons at Waverley at 2.30pm. A win would keep the Hawks faint Finals hope alive.

RINGWOOD 74 (Sturt 15, Fennell 14, Miller 12, Gibson 11, Latham 10, Truman 6, Clarke 4, Snow 2) defeated BENDIGO BRAVES 68 (Turner 25 Muo 22)

Click here to relive the exciting win by Ringwood's men and here to see a replay of the women's loss to Bendigo.