Storming road trip lands top double

BELLARINE Storm enjoyed double delight on the road, with its men’s team claiming comfortable wins in Stawell and Ararat in the Country Basketball League at the weekend.

The Storm started its road trip with a 80-point mauling of the Stawell Wildcats on Saturday night, 128-48, and then backed it up with a hardfought nine-point win over the Ararat Redbacks yesterday.

Sebastian Thomason led the way in Ararat with 27 points, with Nathan Gronbeck (14 points) and Max Maciejewski (10 points) also hitting the scoreboard with solid contributions.

The Storm kept Ararat at arm’s length for most of the night, but the Redbacks showed some fight late, getting the margin back to four points with two minutes remaining.

But Thomason’s two-pointer shortly after gave his side breathing space just as the pressure built.

It was Clancy Whelan who stole the show on Saturday night, plundering 30 points as his side brushed aside Stawell.

Gronbeck also contributed with 20 points, while Thomason (16 points), Brodie Neilson (15 points), Daniel Clifton (14 points) and James Butteriss (13 points) all hit double figures.

Geelong United recorded mixed results in its trip to the southwest, going down to Mt Gambier by 18 points on Saturday night before yesterday securing a 39-point win over Portland.

United actually led the Lakers at the main break on Saturday, but the home side found another gear after half-time to run away with the match.

Mt Gambier set up the win in the third quarter, scoring 28 points to 12 to establish a handy advantage.

But Geelong rebounded nicely yesterday, shrugging off Portland comfortably 106-67.

Max Kos (26 points), Tyler Erard (22 points) and Seth Garcia (21 points) all proved hard to contain in the win.

Geelong United was thrashed 100-38 by Mt Gambier in the women’s competition.

In a tough road trip for United’s women, the Geelong side struggled to stop the scoring power of Olivia Wormald (30 points) and Keryl Ousey (23 points).

Geelong’s Vanessa Marsh (10 points) was the only player to hit double figures.

Next week, the Storm’s men play Warrnambool, while United’s men also take on the Seahawks and also Terang in a double-header.

United’s women play Warrnambool as well as Millicent.