EAGLES FINISH REGULAR SEASON IN STYLE
Next weeks finals received their very own preview in Division 2 this week with LTU taking on Warragul and Coburg against Blackburn. With positions all but sewn up, many were skeptical about how seriously the teams would take the games.
No one needed to tell LTU that they needed to keep playing with the same intensity that has taken them to outright second place, a 10 game winning streak and only 2 losses for the season. Not to mention that they were playing against arch-nemisis Warragul. The team that knocked the Eagles out of last years playoffs. The team that features the human motor mouth, Mike Santo. The team that talks down to every other team like they are the be all and end all of basketball. Did I mention that Paul DiMarzio was playing his 100th game for LTU in the Big V? No? Incentive to win? YES!
Knowing that a win here could demoralise their opponent coming in to finals, the Eagles came out firing and never looked back. Once again missing Tim Sturrock, LTU kept going to Neville Chivhanagnye inside where he had his way with the Warragul bigs. When the Warriors doubles down, Pete Leimonitis stepped in to nail a 3 to keep the defence honest.
Warragul toiled hard but LTU had an answer to everything they threw at them. As is common with Warragul, they imploded and started bickering amongst themselves. LTU just kept playing. The match was over by half time and Coach Andrew Whelan was able to give the young pups a good run. None other than Wayne "Train, Sugar Brain" Chibwana relished the opportunity for his first run of the year and scored 10 points. Salt and Pepper himself, Matt Bates also stepped in and held his own with 10 points and a bit of smack talk from JP Santo. And in amongst it all, keeping the intensity up and the team focussed was the energizer bunny, Paul DiMarzio. Playing inspired basketball as 1 would expect from a player playing his 100th, Paully added 14 points, 5 boards and at least 5 fist pumps on his big occasion.
The regular season is over now and a new season begins next Saturday in Warragul. GAME ON!
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