In a dominant display of skill and teamwork Shepparton Gators secured an emphatic 94-51 victory away from home against Southern Peninsula Sharks in Big V division one action on Saturday night.
The win propels the Gators to second place on the ladder, leapfrogging Sunday's opponent Pakenham.
From the opening tip-off the Gators showcased their prowess, led by star import duo Joshua Kooiman and Derek Murphy.
Their early scoring spree propelled the team to an eight-point lead by the end of the first quarter.
However, it was in the second quarter that the Gators' depth truly shone, with seven different scorers contributing to their commanding lead.
Maintaining the momentum, Shepparton extended its advantage to a comfortable 19 points at half-time.
Not content to rest on their laurels, Murphy and Kooiman continued their scoring onslaught in the third quarter, supported by the hot hand of Benalla native Lachlan Kego.
Even with the game well in hand, the Gators refused to let up in the final quarter.
They outscored the Sharks with a remarkable 26 points while holding their opponents to a mere eight.
“That’s been an area of concern for us this year, getting up early and then kind of sitting back, so it was really pleasing to see the boys keep their foot on the gas, fantastic effort and really proud to see them do that without the home crowd cheering us on,” Gators coach Josh Waight said.
Murphy, who had previously struggled from the field, had a standout game, tallying 26 points with an impressive 66 per cent shooting accuracy.
Waight praised Murphy's improved attacking style, attributing his success to recent training sessions.
“We’ve been working with Derek (Murphy) in recent weeks on attacking the rim off two feet, and it was really pleasing to see him putting that into action,” Waight said.
“We’re a different unit when he’s playing well and we know what he can do.”
Kooiman displayed his sharpshooting skills once again, contributing 17 points, including five three-pointers.
The coach also highlighted Kooiman's remarkable work on the glass, securing 11 rebounds for a double-double.
Meanwhile, Kego remained flawless, converting all six of his shots to contribute 16 points along with four blocks.
“That’s the great thing about our group, anybody can have a great game for us on any given night, we’re not overreliant on any one player, we’re a team first,” Waight said.
Looking ahead, the Gators face 10th-ranked Collingwood on Saturday, May 27, before returning to their home court, Shepparton Sports Stadium, for a revenge match against third-placed Pakenham on Sunday, May 28, at 1pm.
Pakenham handed the Gators the first of their two losses in round two.
“Collingwood have been playing some good basketball, coming off a few wins and Pakenham got the best of us earlier, so we’re looking to return the favour,” Waight said.
“It’s going to be a tough weekend, all these games are important as it’s so close up the top of the ladder, but this group is ready.”