The women’s team will be hoping to lock in a top-four finish with two wins in the final round against Portland and Surfcoast.
Lady Hornets coach Rebecca McIntyre said despite some players waiting to return from COVID-19 isolation, the team was starting to play its best basketball.
“We are really starting to get our consistency going, with a strong idea of offence and team structure,” she said.
“We are focused on next week’s double-header, where two wins should be available for us. Then it is finals, where hopefully we are a good chance.”
The men’s team will play second-placed Portland Coasters in Horsham in a fortnight to round out the season and cement its finals position, aiming for a third-place finish if results go its way.
The men’s team beat Surfcoast Chargers in Torquay on Saturday 90-70 and had the best of Warrnambool Seahawks 79-52 in Horsham on Sunday.
Men’s coach Scott Benbow said getting two wins on the weekend put the team in a fantastic position heading into finals.
“Saturday felt like a comfortable win for us,” he said.
“Sunday was very tough, but a really good scalp for us to take with Warrnambool sitting just above us on the ladder.”
Still missing key players due to COVID-19 isolation and interstate travel, Mr Benbow called upon two young players from the under-18s and a past Hornets player in a display of Hornets depth.
“Mitch Amos and Hugh Dougherty joined us on Sunday against Warrnambool from the under-18s and Matty Lloyd, an ‘old’ Horsham boy home for Christmas, were three amazing inclusions for us – especially given the outs we still have at the moment,” he said.
“Our goal was to play finals and we have made it with one game to go. We are playing really well and really fast and we do not fear anyone because our best basketball is as good as anyones.”
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