Lithgow Workies Lazers have arrested their four-match losing slide in the Spalding Waratah League Division One Men's Basketball competition with a solid 92-77 victory over the Queanbeyan Yowies at the Lazerdome.
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The Lazers' teamwork during the match, apart from the second quarter, was arguably their best so far, and will hopefully spark a run to the play-offs as they move into the second half of the season.
The Lazers' starting side of Michael Johnson, Michael Cox, Adam Marjoram, Kobe Hunter and Hayden Cox, after an even opening four minutes, gradually pulled away from the Yowies as the two Michaels, Cox (12 points) and Johnson (11), found their range to push the home side out to a strong 29-17 advantage.
Lithgow's games this season have been characterised by poor starts in the third period but this time they went off early in the second.
Queanbeyan produced a 13-0 run to take the lead at 30-29 as the locals were unable to find the basket for almost five minutes. A couple of time-outs by Coach Dave Swift settled the Lazers and seven unanswered points at the end of the quarter saw them go to the long break up by four, 44-40.
The Lazers pushed the margin out to double digits early in the third, with the welcome return from injury of Matt Hughes, alongside robust contributions from Caleb Fitzpatrick, Zeke Evans, Austyn Lincoln and Mitchell Brain, helping their side get on top of the Yowies.
The quarter ended with the home side holding a healthy 77-55 lead.
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The visitors made a couple of short-lived runs at the Lazers in the last period, but the Lithgow side had enough in reserve to take the win, 92-77.
Queanbeyan's best were Johnathon Miller (20 points), Joshua Hathaway (14) and Gabriel Haynes (12).
Result: Lithgow Lazers 92 (M Johnson 31, M Cox 19, M Hughes 11, A Marjoram 9, C Fitzpatrick 6, K Hunter 6, Z Evans 5, H Cox 3, A Lincoln 2) def Queanbeyan Yowies 77.
Pool A Standings: Shoalhaven 7 wins, 2 losses, Sutherland 7-2, Illawarra 7-2, Canberra 6-3, Bankstown 5-4, Lithgow 4-5, Queanbeyan 4-5, Wagga 3-6, Orange 2-8, Dubbo 1-9.
The Lazers travel to Sutherland this Saturday to take on the equal first-place Sharks. Tip-off is at 4 pm.
At this match the Lazers will welcome new import Darreon Tolliver to the team. According to Richard Marjoram this was made possible by the tireless effort of Jill Marjoram and Richard Bolaffi as well as his team at Australia and NZ Basketball Scouts.
"These guys have been amazing," he said.
