Wallan Panthers secured a four-point win over Surf Coast in overtime in Saturday’s away game, claiming a 90-86 victory.
An early foul from Wallan’s Leigh Dean saw Surf Coast hit one of two free throws, with missed rebounds by Wallan resulting in a quick three-point play to open the game.
Wallan continued to play catch up for the quarter, with the biggest lead extending to only nine points. The Panthers were down 13-18 at the end of the first.
Wallan started strong in the second as Jayden O’Brien hit a three-pointer to open the quarter. Two quick baskets by Surf Coast extended its lead back out to five as the Panthers’ momentum stalled with turnovers and fouls.
Neither team could score for multiple transitions until O’Brien made a layup off a steal. This got Wallan back into the game with the side chasing down Surf Coast, shrinking the gap to within three points.
A quick series of baskets in the final minutes saw Wallan get within six points heading into the half.
Wallan turned the game around in the third quarter. Trailing for most of the quarter, Wallan finally drew the game after a two-point jumper from Tyler Best bought the game to 48 all.
A layup from consistent player Dominic Bruno put the Panthers in front for the first time, with 37 seconds remaining.
Surf Coast drew the game again, but a free throw from Bruno put Wallan back in front.
A technical foul from Keenan Gorski sent Surf Coast to the line on the buzzer but Surf Coast’s Tyler Erard missed both, keeping Wallan ahead by one.
Surf Coast clawed its way back in the fourth, getting ahead with just under two minutes remaining and scores 67 to 66.
O’Brien had an unsuccessful scoring attempt after a timeout and Surf Coast made a layup, strengthening its lead to three with less than a minute remaining.
But Gorksi’s crucial defensive rebound drawing a technical foul earnt him two free throws, which brought Wallan back to within one point at 29 seconds remaining.
Wallan gave away three fouls, with O’Brien sending Surf Coast’s Rody Spoormakers to the line hitting both. With Surf Coast ahead by three with four seconds remaining Wallan called a timeout.
Gorski hit a clutch three pointer with two seconds remaining, sending the game into overtime.
Gorski was proving to be crucial, drawing a foul in the opening seconds of overtime, heading to the line, making both free throws. He then got a steal before Bruno drew the foul and made one free throw.
Surf Coast drew the game with 44 seconds remaining but a two-point jumper from Gorski saw Wallan back in front.
A steal and drawn foul from Bruno saw him make both free throws with 16 seconds to go.
Surf Coast missed both shot attempts in the final seconds, and Wallan walked away with another close-fought victory.
Gorski was essential to the side’s win, ending the game with an impressive 34 points, seven rebounds, one assist and two steals.
Fourth-placed Wallan has a week off before heading to Mildura to face third-placed Mildura Heat.
Women
In another nailbiter, Wallan Panthers women’s team fell just short, losing 84 to 86, playing away to Surf Coast on Saturday.
Kylah Collins had another incredible game hitting 32 points and 15 rebounds in a double-double.
Olivia Dalmau also put in another brilliant performance, with a double-double having 18 points and 10 rebounds.
Both teams struggled to score in the opening minutes, but eventually Wallan opened its scoring with a three-pointer from Dalmau and continued to hold the lead.
Surf Coast was unable to score again until halfway through the quarter, which shifted the momentum of the game.
The Panthers struggled to hit a shot, with Surf Coast securing rebounds and converting down the other end.
Surf Coast got back in front with just under two minutes remaining until Collins scored. Wallan maintained its lead 19 to 18.
The game see-sawed until Surf Coast made a break, edging ahead by five points with three and a half minutes remaining.
Wallan was constantly in the game but unable to get back in front, heading into the half down 41 to 44.
Coming out of the half Surf Coast were up by 10, the biggest lead of the game.
Undeterred, Wallan continued to chip away at the scoreboard drawing the game at 54-all with five and a half minutes remaining.
The Panthers then pulled ahead with just under four minutes remaining and managed to hold the lead heading into the final quarter, up 68 to 61.
Both teams struggled to score in the opening minutes of the final quarter but Surf Coast got on a run with seven minutes to go, bringing the game back within two points.
With just under three minutes remaining, Surf Coast snagged the lead back from Wallan, leaving the Panthers to play catch up in the final two minutes.
A layup from Collins was answered with a jumper from Surf Coast putting them back in front by one. Wallan couldn’t score and after a timeout, Surf Coast made a two-point jumper.
Dalmau hit a clutch three-pointer with one second to go, drawing the game as Surf Coast called a timeout desperate for a play.
In an unfortunate outcome for Wallan, Surf Coast scored after a missed layup attempt to win the game in a nail bitting finish.
Wallan have a break this weekend and will face the RMIT Redbacks in a home game on Sunday, June 18. The Panthers, in third spot, will be favourites to win after beating the Redbacks 80 to 37 last time they met.
