The Gators used home court advantage to their full potential at The Swamp (Shepparton Sports Stadium) at the weekend, pumping the crowd up down the stretch with a 30-12 last stanza to secure a 20-point triumph.
The win puts the Gators in second spot on the Big V division one men’s ladder with just one weekend to go before finals spots are locked in.
‘‘For us as a club it was a terrific win,’’ Shepparton coach Leigh Bathman said.
‘‘The way the ladder has panned out our destiny is now in our own hands, if we win both games next weekend we’ll get a week off and a home final.’’
Playing for their own finals lives, the Bellarine Storm pushed the Gators for the first three quarters before the home side pulled away thanks in no small part to captain Nick Dodd’s efforts, with the big man draining 11 of his 25 points for the game in the last stanza.
‘‘Nick really stood up and was instrumental in that fourth quarter,’’ Bathman said.
‘‘But we weren’t short of contributors. Atem Atem and Carlin Dupree were great as well and Jordan Michel stepped up late in the third and across the fourth and handled himself really well.’’
Dodd finished with eight rebounds to go with his 25 points, while Atem (28 points, seven rebounds and three assists), Dupree (23 points, seven rebounds and 11 assists) and Javaan Mumtaz (13 points, seven rebounds and three assists) impressed as well.
The Gators still have a game in hand on top-of-the-table Warrandyte and will finish the regular season with a double-header this weekend, but they will likely have to do so without an important cog.
‘‘Gabe Evans went down with a foot tendon injury at training on Thursday night,’’ Bathman said.
‘‘It’s looking like he’ll miss a couple of weeks, but it gives some opportunities for others to step up.’’
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