HAMILTON Hurricanes ended its Country Basketball League (CBL) 2024 season with a pair of losses on the weekend, despite some great efforts from the entire squad, as Millicent Magic defeated the ‘canes, 119-56, before Hamilton lost to the Mount Gambier Lakers, 67-94.
The Hurricanes have not enjoyed the season they wanted to when their campaign started, but even though the squad failed to post a victory, the players did manage to improve their performances as the season wore on and have set themselves up for a better season next year.
The Hurricanes had the South Australian road trip double-header to end their campaign and on Saturday night they were hosted by the Magic, who performed extremely well in the percentage-boosting win.
Millicent jumped the visitors from the opening tip off and held a 20-point lead at the first break, which it only increased at each subsequent interval.
Josh Miller again proved his class with 24 points, while Craig Jackson assisted with 12 points, as the hosts attacked the basket at every chance possible.
Five players registered double figure scores for the hosts, as the Hurricanes suffered their worst loss of the season.
On Sunday afternoon the Hurricanes backed up with a clash against Mount Gambier Lakers, and after their pride had been dented the previous night, the Hamilton players took the game right up to the hosts.
At the first break the Hurricanes were down by only seven points, 16-23, but they returned to the court with a positive attitude and won the second term 24-20 to trail by only three points at the main break.
The Hurricanes couldn’t maintain its intensity in the second half though, as the hosts found another gear to outscore the visitors, 51-27, and run out comfortable winners, 94-67.
Miller (25) and Jackson (13) again posted the most points for the Hurricanes.
The top-scorer also had plenty to celebrate, with his 240-point season topping the total points scored across the competition for the 10-game season, with an average of 24 points per game.
Players will now concentrate on their club basketball for the remainder of 2024 but will be keen for the CBL 2025 to start come October.
