THE Western Port Steelers have kept their slim finals chances alive in the Big V Men’s competition with an upset triumph over the Hume Broncos, snatching a 12-point win on the road at Broadmeadows Basketball Stadium on Saturday night.

The Steelers have not enjoyed the most successful of seasons, coming into the game with just six wins next to their name, and the Broncos were stationed in fourth spot in the standings with a more impressive record. However, the Steelers delivered one of their strongest showings of season 2022, excelling in the second term to jump out to an impressive lead, one that they were able to ride home to the final buzzer. The dominance in the second period saw a shell-shocked Hume side suddenly on the back foot, and despite its best efforts, was unable to make any ground to close out the game.

There were a number of contributors in the win for Western Port, but the man of the hour was Naaman Hightower, who hurt the opposition in a big way. With his side’s season potentially on the line, the United States import stood up when it mattered, producing an efficient and damaging performance that helped the Steelers get to a winning score.

Naaman Hightower vs. Broncos – 22 points, 13 rebounds, four assists

With ball in hand, Hightower did not wast many opportunities on the scoring end. On his way to a very solid 22 points, he made 10 of his 13 field goal attempts, only taking excellent looks and creating some if the defence began to collapse in. Combining well with teammate Daryl Corletto (who had 28 points of his own), Hightower did his best work inside, and the duo worked together to shake the Hume defence and create the best possible scoring opportunity.

Inside the arc, Hightower was just about unstoppable, with all of his field goals coming from this domain. His 10 buckets were the most of anyone on the court for either side, as he showcased an offensive arsenal that bamboozled defenders. Whether it was a nifty post-hook or a driving lay-up, he was able to find the bottom of the net using his physicality and deft touch, producing a seriously efficient showing.

He was also able to affect the contest in the rebounding battle, pulling down a game-high 13 for the game. Most of these came on the defensive end, denying the opposition any chance of an extra possession when their shots were wayward. However, two rebounds were offensive, and resulted in another scoring opportunity for the Steelers, and often found the bottom of the basket.

While he has had a bunch of impressive performances throughout the year to date, Hightower produced one of his best when it mattered most, with the Steelers now a mathematical chance of making the finals. However, they will need his efforts to be replicated on a weekly basis if they are to make an unlikely charge into the postseason.