Before the game began, Chloe Goodman from the under 12s girls team sang the national anthem to an impressed crowd. 

The Lithgow starting line–up began well, against the more fancied Sydney team.

Jaidyn Goodwin found his rhythm early and hit some big three point shots, backed up by Michael Cox and Terrence Durham, meant Lazers took the first quarter 25-18.

In the second quarter the Lazers maintained that pressure and ball control, and in this quarter Michael Cox, Adam Marjoram and Matur Malauch were the main scorers, and at half time it was Lithgow that maintained a strong lead 45 to 34. 

Sutherland stepped up in the third quarter and closed the gap by scoring more points than Lithgow in the quarter, despite this the Lazers were still ahead by 9 points.  

In the fourth quarter the pressure mounted, and some turnovers let the Sharks tighten the gap.

Lithgow’s big man Kurt Northey was bought back into the game, to take control of the boards at a vital point in the match. 

“Matur Malauch who was playing his first game of the season, was the standout defensive player, and gave the Lazers good options on offence within the keyhole,”coach Richard Marjoram said. 

Big all-round games were contributed by Jaidyn Goodwin in the point guard role who was well supported by Terrence Durham.

Adam Marjoram had a very strong defensive game, while Michael Cox found his range from the deep, scoring some well earned baskets.

Kurt Northey and Todd Brownlow had some great rebounds, and Kobe Hunter when called to relieve the point guard, played well.

“That was possibly the biggest crowd we’ve had in Barton Street Stadium for a long time,” Marjoram said . 

The Lazers had five top scorers in Michael Cox and Matur Malauch on 19 each, Adam Marjoram and Jaidyn Goodwin with 18 each and Terrence Durham scoring 16.

The Sutherland Sharks’ top scorers were Reece Craigie on 35 and Ben White scoring 11.

The Lithgow Lazers will play their next game against the Shoalhaven Tigers in Nowra on Saturday, April 14. 

The Lazers say a big thank you to Sonya Cox who works tirelessly in the canteen each home game.