An extra roll around the rim, a further inch of power on a shot, an extra centimetre of leap to get a finger on a blocked shot - all of which could have changed the trajectory of Shepparton’s Big V division one campaign, and the trajectory of its 2027 season too.
Six more points, two more three-pointers. That’s all that stood in between Shepparton jumping out of the relegation zone on Saturday, but now the Gators are left two games behind and in murky waters of what next season holds.
For the neutral fan at Coburg Basketball Stadium, though, the clash between the Giants and Gators was worth every cent of admittance.
A high-scoring shoot-out with a division one place on the line, both sides threw their punches across all four quarters in a game played with desperation and motivation.
It was the Giants that held the advantage first, with offensive rebounding aiding in securing seven second chance points, which ultimately helped Coburg prevail to a six-point quarter-time lead.
Two tough and-one layups were converted by Taine Wattie in the opening period, while Josh Kooiman continued his hot form behind the arc with an early three-pointer, so despite the deficit, the Gators were heating up and alive in the contest.
In the second term, Shepparton’s game plan was firing on all cylinders.
Last week, a 39-point quarter was the Gators’ best scoring output in a quarter, but Shepparton would one-up itself on Saturday afternoon.
Shooting at a stunning 87.5 per cent from the mid-range, and an unbelievable 72.8 per cent from down town, the Gators tallied 40 points in 10 minutes of action while Coburg did its best to keep touch with 28.
The term saw Kooiman catch fire and hit five threes from just six attempts, while Joseph Allen was flawless from beyond the arc also in his two attempts, and by half time the six-point margin was now in Shepparton’s favour.
However, following the main break’s huddle, it appeared Shepparton had used all its powers in one hit.
The third quarter was a polar opposite display, two-point shooting dropping to 45 per cent and three-point shooting plummeting to 16.7 per cent.
It allowed Coburg to storm back in front and take a five-point lead heading into the final term.
With everything at stake, the final quarter intensity raised up a notch.
Diving for loose balls, the home crowd popping after each bucket, it was a playoff experience for Shepparton without the official post-season title.
Allen, known for his grit and determination to do the dirty work, accumulated all three of his blocks in the final term to try haul the Gators home.
Wattie (33 points) and Kooiman (26 points) were fed the Spalding at every offensive possession in hopes their hot form would translate enough for victory.
But throughout the period, Coburg had an answer for every Shepparton strike.
With 33 seconds remaining, a Kooiman three heaved the Gators the closest they had been to a fourth quarter lead, trailing by two.
But the Giants found their way to the charity stripe twice after, the free throws sealing the deal on a heartbreaking Gators loss, final scores 104-98.
Now, Shepparton will need to win its last three games and have other results fall its way to avoid relegation.
Games against mid-table teams Bulleen and Whittlesea are winnable for the Gators, but the navy blue and red’s greatest challenge comes next week at home against top-two side Chelsea.
Coburg face three top-five sides in its run home, so Shepparton is still a mathematical chance to pull itself out of the relegation trench, but it will take more almighty scoring displays from Wattie, Kooiman and co if the Gators are to do so.
In the women’s, the Gators suffered a 30-point defeat to Coburg.
Tan Fung Ma dropped 22 points in the loss.
The women’s Gators finish their season with a three-game home stretch, including back-to-back games on Saturday and Sunday at the Swamp this weekend.
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