AN ENORMOUS double-double from Diamond Valley Eagles’ skipper Jock Perry helped guide his struggling side to a massive come-from-behind overtime win against NBL1 South Men’s title contender Casey Cavaliers on the weekend. The Eagles – who entered Round 4 with a 1-4 record – picked up two wins across the weekend, while Casey was 4-1 heading into the Sunday clash having defeated the previously undefeated Knox Raiders the day before.

All signs pointed to a blowout in favour of the home team if anything, and the first quarter deficit only added to that narrative. At the end of 10 minutes, Casey had raced out to a 26-11 lead and was in complete control of the script. However Diamond Valley ripped that to shreds in the second as the Eagles stemmed the bleeding and got marginally on top in a high-scoring quarter.

That momentum – coming from as much as 19 points down with three minutes left in the first half – carried into the third quarter as the Eagles piled on 25 points to 11 to level the scores by the final break. Both sides traded blows throughout the last 10 minutes with an Adam Thoseby triple with 26 seconds left on the clock putting Diamond Valley up by a point.

When Preston Bungei was fouled and sent to the line for the Cavaliers, a relieving sigh was felt from the visitors as he made just one of two, levelling the scores at 85 apiece. Diamond Valley held onto the rock until the dying moments with Jesse Ghee attempting a long-range match-winner, but it was not to be as Bungei pulled it in safely and the game went to overtime.

Once again there was not much to separate the sides with Ngor Mangyang‘s triple putting the Eagles up by two, only to be countered by Tyler Robertson and Trendon Hankerson over the next minute. When Hunter Marks successfully made his two free throws after drawing a foul, the Cavaliers were out to a 94-89 lead with 2:38 on the clock.

Despite being down, Diamond Valley Eagles were never out of it and needing a hero, captain Perry stepped up to the plate. In the space of just over a minute, Perry shot eight unanswered points to go from five down to three in front, the last of which came with nine seconds remaining. It iced the game with both sides missing their last attempts and the game needing just the one overtime period to settle the result by three.

Perry put in a skipper’s shift with a dominant 34 points and 19 rebounds, as well as four assists and three steals to steer his side to victory. He was deadly with his shooting, draining 12 of 18 from the field, including five of six from three-point range in the win. Manyang (20 points, four rebounds) and Thoseby (14 points, three rebounds and two assists) were both important, while Jesse McIntosh (13 points, six rebounds) worked hard.

For Casey, Nate Roberts made a team-high 20 points and 14 rebounds to also collect a double-double but was strong defensively with three steals. Bungei (16 points, seven rebounds, five assists and four steals) was the pick of the Cavaliers, while Hankerson (17 points, five rebounds and six assists) and Robertson (16 points, four rebounds) tried hard.

SOUTH ROUND 4 RESULTS:

Thursday, April 24:

Melbourne Tigers (76) def. by Nunawading Spectres (77)
Frankston Blues (97) def. Dandenong Rangers (86)

Friday, April 25:

Nunawading Spectres (95) def. Eltham Wildcats (91)
Diamond Valley Eagles (79) def. Ringwood Hawks (75)
North West Tasmania (82) def. by Geelong United (86)
Hobart Chargers (95) def. Keilor Thunder (88)
Knox Raiders (73) def. by Casey Cavaliers (85)
Mt Gambier Pioneers (105) def. Waverley Falcons (73)

Saturday, April 26:

Sandringham Sabres (89) def. by Kilsyth Cobras (90)
Casey Cavaliers (94) def. by Diamond Valley Eagles (97)
Bendigo Braves (85) def. by Knox Raiders (94)
North West Tasmania (98) def. Keilor Thunder (53)
Eltham Wildcats (105) def. Ballarat Miners (71)
Hobart Chargers (73) def. by Geelong United (78)

Sunday, April 27:
Ringwood Hawks (97) def. by Sandringham Sabres (104)
Waverley Falcons (87) def. by Bendigo Braves (90)