The St. Laurence Geelong Supercats have been elevated to one of the top four elite community basketball teams in the country after defeating the central ABL champions by a comfortable 29 points in their Australian Basketball Association national club championships quarter final at the Arena on Saturday night.

The Supercats will now join Dandenong Rangers (Big V), Cairns Marlins (QABL) and Sutherland Sharks (WABL) at the Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre next Saturday to contest the ABA national semi finals. The National Final will be conducted next Sunday afternoon.

The Rockets were able to stay with the Supercats early on in the match while both sides sounded each other out. The injection of Braith Cox and Jamal Brown at the five minute mark of the first quarter sparked the Supercats into action and from that point, they were never headed. From 13 all, Geelong moved away to be 31 to 17 at the first break.

Shawn Myers was the man that the Rockets wanted to defend and the close defence lead to the Supercats highest scorer being fouled on several occasions, which saw him head to the free throw line. Geelong again moved ahead in the second period and had a 24 point lead just before the half but a late rally led by Rockets’ centre Nick Hambour and NBL star Dusty Rychart bought the margin back to a respectable 16 points as they went in for the long break.

Jason Reardon began to have an effect on the game in the third taking some rebounds while scoring freely at the other end. Geelong extended the lead again by seven points in the quarter to take a match winning 23 point margin going into the last.

Jamie Medved for Geelong has been playing some of his best basketball of late and was again on song as the Supercats cruised home to victory 120 points to 91.

The Supercats local Geelong rookie squadron of Chris Brown, Dane Bow and Kris Van Parraren were absent for the match as they were helping the Geelong cats Big V youth league side win the first leg of their grand final series at Ringwood.

They weren’t needed however, as seven Supercats scored in double figures in the comprehensive victory. Myers was the best with 32 points while Jason Reardon nearly managed an elusive triple double with 17 points, 11 assists and 9 rebounds. Cox had one of his best games for the Supercats with 16 points, which was matched by Brown while Nathan Herbert, Dean Brebner and Jamie Medved also managed double figures. Guard Erik Burdon had 21 for the Rockets while Rychart finished with 19.

The Supercats are drawn to play the Cairns Marlins on Saturday evening at MSAC. Tickets are available from the venue.

The final home game at the Arena signalled the retirement of a Supercats stalwart as Mark Brunger, court announcer for the last 11 years decided it was time to hang up the microphone. Brunger’s assistant Debbie Riddle, the queen of the background music and sound effects, has also retired. The Supercats wish Mark and Debbie all the best for their future endeavours.

St. Laurence Geelong Supercats 120 (S. Myers 32, J. Reardon 17, B. Cox 16, J. Brown 16)
North Adelaide Rockets 91 (E. Burdon 21, D. Rychart 19, M. Zorich 16)
Saturday, August 18 @ Geelong Arena