CHARGERS DETERMINED TO BOUNCE RIGHT BACK
A FULL-STRENGTH Hobart Chargers outfit will be looking to respond strongly in tonight’s NBL1 clash, following their shock loss to Bendigo last weekend.
After going on a 12-game winning streak, the ladder leading Chargers were beaten by the Braves 85-78 to extend their winning streak to 11. Chargers coach Anthony Stewart admitted the side may have let some complacency slip in.
“We did a really good job against Geelong (the night prior) and then we just hit the wall and got a little bit comfortable with ourselves. It was probably a level of complacency that crept in,” Stewart said.
But with the return of gold medal-winning Boomer Sam McDaniel to the lineup, Stewart is hoping for an immediate response against Waverley tonight at the Kingborough Sports Centre.
“If we win this week, we basically secure a top four spot but if we lose our next three against high quality opposition then we fall back to eight. We are focused on taking care of business tonight against Waverley and then securing that top two finish to give us two home finals.”
The Chargers’ run home will be a tough one, with the side facing fellow top-eight contenders Sandringham and the North-West Thunder in coming weeks.
McDaniel will suit up for the first time since returning home as a member of the Australian Boomers squad that claimed the gold in the FIBA Asia Cup final last weekend.
“The whole experience for me was incredible. I hadn’t been overseas in years so to go over and achieve what we did was fantastic,” he said.
“I’ve been able to refresh for a few days since coming home and the guys have been in great form since I left so I’m excited to get back on the court.”