Mustangs shape up a challenge

If the Maitland Mustangs want to guarantee their first semi-final in the Waratah League is at home they’ll need to achieve something they’ve never done before.

The Mustangs will have to beat the seventh-placed Norths Bears in Sydney on Saturday night.

Mustangs coach Luke Boyle made the announcement to his team that they were guaranteed a finals spot in the Waratah Australian Basketball League for the first time in the club’s history.

But forward Scott McGregor said the team was focused on finishing as high as possible up the ladder to ensure their first play-off game was at the Maitland Federation Centre.

The Mustangs slipped back to sixth on the ladder after their last start loss to Manly because of for-and-against with three other teams on 11 wins.

But with an extra game in hand against Parramatta, the Mustangs have the chance to finish as high as third behind the Wildcats and the Sea Eagles.

“We’re actually tied third, but you get points for losses, so those teams with more losses than us are above us on the table,” McGregor said.

“We’re guaranteed a finals spot – it’s just up to us how high we finish.

“We need to win at least two out of our next three and we should be close to getting third spot.”

But this weekend the Mustangs will have to break their duck at Northern Beaches Indoor Sports Centre against the Bears.

“We’re certainly not taking them lightly,” McGregor said.

“They beat us at home this year, so we know they’re going to be tough.”

The Mustangs and Bears tip-off at 6pm on Saturday.