Feeling good after its most productive week on the court yet, the Chemist King Mount Gambier Lakers are in an anxious wait hoping COVID-19 will not stop its momentum yet again.
Being the only South Australian team in the 2021/22 Country Basketball League, the Lakers have often drawn the short straw and been forced forfeit some games due to border restrictions.
But the arrival of 2022 finally brought some good luck as the Mount Gambier men recorded a much-needed win, while the women overcame two of its biggest rivals home and away.
However, the virus is never too far away and in the hours following the Lakers’ critical six-point win, a positive test of COVID-19 emerged within the Mermaids camp.
As a precaution Basketball Mount Gambier has closed the Ice House until further notice to undergo a deep clean of the stadium.
With the MG Plasterers South East Coast Basketball League not scheduled to recommence until next month, casual hoops is the only thing affected aside from Lakers’ commitments.
With people who attended the Ice House on Sunday encouraged to get tested if symptoms arise, this weekend’s fixtures are suddenly surrounded by uncertainty.
The men and women are both lined up to host Portland at Bern Bruning Stadium this Saturday evening as part of the CBL’s Lifeline Mental Health Round.
Basketball Mount Gambier development manager and Lakers player Tom Daly said the team had dealt with similar setbacks in the past and hoped the games could go ahead as scheduled.
“First and foremost we want to look after the safety of our players because there is a risk now with COVID-19 not going away,” he said.
“We hope it has not spread to any of our players and if that is the case we should be able to go ahead this weekend.
“But obviously there is a bit of unknown at the moment and we just have to see how it goes over the next few days.
“We do have an advantage with lots of talented players so we might have to reshuffle the teams again and bring in some more younger players.
“We will do everything we can within the rules with a common sense approach to get the games happening, but it is just another hurdle at the moment.
“Other than teams coming into train, casual hoops and CBL that has been affected.
“We will just take it as it comes and do the best job we can.”
If play is possible on Sunday, it shapes up to be another challenge for the men to overcome.
Even after the breakthrough win over Warrnambool the Lakers are still at the bottom of the ladder and must take on second-placed Portland.
The Coasters have a strong 4-2 win-loss record and will be looking to reopen scars from their thrilling two-point win over Mount Gambier in the season opener.
Jackson Dunlop and Nathan Hardingham were pivotal players in that arm wrestle, but the Coasters are not arriving at the Ice House with a lot of wind in their sails.
Portland ambled into the new year after back-to-back defeats to Warrnambool and Colac, but managed to start 2022 on a winning note against Horsham.
The women’s contest also shapes up to be a great battle.
Mount Gambier is in the mix for the minor premiership, but to stay in the hunt it needs to overcome tricky opponents such as Portland.
The Coasters sit directly below the Lakers on the ladder, but the latter has a far superior win-loss record.
The rivals met back in round 1 and put on a show across four quarters.
Portland held the upper hand early on through the strong efforts of Kayla Pickert and Nicola Handreck.
However, a last-term charge from Mount Gambier fronted by Maddy and Olivia Wormald caught the home team off guard and overturned the scoreboard.
The young Lakers side will be determined to put in another starring performance and build on the momentum generated from their mightily important win over the Mermaids.
The women’s game tips off the action from 6pm, while the men hit the court at 8pm on Saturday night.
