The Lithgow Workies Lazers have slipped to a share of fourth place in Pool A of the Spalding Waratah League Division One Men's Competition following a frustrating loss to the Canberra Gunners Academy side in Canberra. The Gunners joined the Lazers on three wins and two losses with their 82-75 victory.
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Lithgow's starting five of Michael Johnson, Drelan Tripplett, Michael Cox, Adam Marjoram and Kobe Hunter began well, with an opening basket from Tripplett and a pair of free-throws for Johnson producing a quick 4-0 lead. Canberra soon tied it at 6-all though, and had the better of the quarter to be up 21-16 at the break.
The young Gunners team employed a mobile pressing defence, making it difficult for the Lazers to get quality shots up, and restricting them to a season-low of five three-pointers for the match. Canberra pulled away late in the second quarter to be in control at halftime, 41-31.
Canberra kept the pressure on in the third stanza, holding the margin in double digits for much of it and pushing the gap to fifteen several times. A 12-4 Lazers run to end the quarter saw them within striking distance at 60-53 down.
The teams went blow-for-blow in the final period before a late Lithgow charge closed the gap to four at 79-75 with ninety seconds remaining. The Gunners hit three free-throws at the death as Lithgow sent them to the line in an attempt to get the ball back, with the final score being Gunners 82, Lazers 75.
Dhal Fieg (29 points), current average points leader Will Mayfield (24) and Akech Mayom (12) were the top scorers for the Gunners.
The Lazers bench of Caleb Fitzpatrick, Hayden Cox, Michael Brooks and Austyn Lincoln all got on the scoresheet, and more than matched the Gunners' seven-man reserves, outscoring them 13 points to 9.
The Lazers are back home on Saturday April 27 with a game against the always tough Bankstown Bruins. Tip-off is at the earlier than usual time of 4 pm.
Result: Canberra Gunners Academy 82 def Lithgow Lazers 75 (M Johnson 23, M Cox 17, D Tripplett 12, A Marjoram 8, H Cox 4, C Fitzpatrick 4, M Brooks 3, K Hunter 2, A Lincoln 2).
Pool A Standings: Sutherland 5 wins, 0 losses, Shoalhaven 5-1, Illawarra 4-1, Lithgow 3-2, Canberra 3-2, Bankstown 3-3, Queanbeyan 3-3, Wagga 1-5, Orange 1-5, Dubbo 0-6
