SUPERCAT SQUADS DO THE HUSTLE

GEELONG Supercats’ men and women both progressed to the semi-finals of the 3x3 Pro Hustle on the Waterfront yesterday, but neither side could reach a home final.

The Supercats men, who triumphed in the final in Melbourne a fortnight ago, won their two pool games on Saturday and a quarterfinal yesterday against Canberra KJR, 19-5, but fell short to Stateside Sports, 22-16 in the semi-final.

Stateside Sports eventually won the final against Spectres iAthletic, 21-17, while the Supercats loss the third-place classification game to TSV Reading Cinemas, 21-15, to finish the tournament ranked fourth.

Former captain Nathan Herbert came out of retirement to play with the four-man squad, which was led by DeMarcus Gatlin and also included Lewis Thomas and Nathan Freind.

“I thought while in town, it was an opportunity to get out and do it, but it was really good, actually,” he said.

“It was actually quite fun. I had never played it before so it was a new eye-opening thing, but it was quite physical and suits the way I play in the half-court.

“The whole set-up was great and we were blessed with some great weather on the weekend. Obviously it would have been nice to win it again. Liam McInerney, who played in Melbourne has broken his thumb, so he missed the two games. He certainly would have been handy to have another big.”

Meanwhile, the Supercats women performed a lot better than in Melbourne two weeks ago, also finishing in fourth place.

In similar fashion to the Supercats men, the young Supercats women won their two pool games on Saturday before suffering a semi-final defeat yesterday to Peninsula Bobcats, 13-9, followed by a 22-8 defeat to Spectres iAthletic in the third-place classification game.

The four-player squad featured Jaz Shelley, Charlotte Brancatisano, Isabelle Bourne and Kobe Hawea.

The Bobcats were crowed the Open Women champions, beating Melbourne Boomers, 18-16, in yesterday’s final in Geelong.

Meanwhile, on Friday, Surfcoasters claimed the Under-14 mixed 3x3 Street Hustle final.

The three Torquay 12-year-olds lost their first game, but went on to win their next two before turning the tables on Norths Bears, 7-3.

It was part of a three-day carnival that featured celebrity exhibition matches, dunk competitions and other entertainment.