Both Teams Look to End Losing Streak in Saturday Showdown

The GMHBA Ballarat Miners are hungry for a win and looking to end their three-game losing streak as they take on the Albury-Wodonga Bandits this Saturday.

Despite a remarkable performance from Ken Horton, the Miners fell last Saturday to the Frankston Blues, 89-95, putting them at a 1-4 record, and dropping them to sixth on the East conference ladder.

The good news in the loss to Frankston, however, lies in the fact that due to foul trouble, key players such as Liam Gibcus and Roy Booker were not able to see much of the court, and the Miners were still able to keep the margin of loss respectably low. There will be added pressure on the Miners to employ a defensive strategy which allows Gibcus and Booker to remain more of a factor, thus increasing the Miners’ chance for success.

The Albury-Wodonga Bandits are sitting just under Ballarat on the ladder, at seventh place with a 1-5 record. In the midst of a four-game losing streak, the Bandits will also be looking to get back on track this Saturday against the Miners, and will be just as driven to end their streak and get a win.

Jamar Briscoe and Mohamed Ntumba, imports for Albury-Wodonga, will most likely be leading the charge in these efforts. Briscoe, averaging 22.5 points a game on 40% shooting, and Ntumba, averaging a double-double of 12.5 points and 10 rebounds each game, will be a point of focus for the Miners. The ability to limit the Bandits’ imports to below their averages will prove valuable in helping the Miners secure a win.

With Horton coming off his best performance as a Miner, and a renewed sense of ambition from the rest of the playing group, a victory for Ballarat this weekend is very achievable. Come support your Miners from 8pm at the MARS® MINERDOME, as they follow the Rush, who tip-off at 6pm.