The winning feeling is back for the Altona Gators in Big V men’s division 2 basketball.
The Gators went through last season without registering a victory yet have started the new season with promise – two wins from three starts.
They made it back-to-back victories on Sunday, beating North East Bushrangers 88-75 on their home court at the Altona Sports Centre.
Their only loss came in round one against the red hot Western Port Steelers, who remain undefeated at the top of the ladder.
Altona made a fast start against the Bushrangers, taking a 10-point lead into quarter-time.
The gap was maintained for the remaining three quarters before the Gators settled on a 13-point win.
Gators coach Des Radoslovic was happy to mix his line-ups around, giving double-digit minutes to eight individuals.
One constant was Justin Eckhardt, who played 34 minutes and recorded a double-double of 18 points and 13 rebounds.
Joey Mausar was deadly from long range, hitting five three-pointers en route to 18 points.
The long ball was on target across the board for the Gators, who connected on 15 threes at 33 per cent.
Patrick Green (13 points and seven rebounds), Rasmus Wurr (10 points and four assists) and Tyson Burton (12 points and eight rebounds) were the other stand-outs for the Gators.
Fourth-placed Altona will travel to Pakenham (2-1) on Saturday night for a mouth-watering clash between two in-form sides.
In women’s division 2, Altona Gators went back and forth in an arm wrestle with the Keysborough Cougars before losing 77-70 in a nail-biter at the Altona Sports Centre.
Alysha Carden-David (23 points and nine rebounds) and Nadine Collins (15 points and 11 rebounds) led the Gators, but to no avail in the end.
Meanwhile, Tom Georgiadis stuffed the stat sheet for the Gators’ youth league men’s team, finishing with 33 points, eight rebounds, four assists, five steals and two threes.
The young Gators recorded a 101-72 victory over Pakenham.
Lance Jenkinson
