Bendigo Men tighten the screws in week one

Bendigo Bank Braves Men have started the 2024 NBL1 season with a lot of promise, splitting its two first-round games and unveiling some big talent.

A loss away to Ballarat in the season opener on Wednesday could easily have gone the other way, and a tough win against Waverley on Saturday night showed the home crowd what the team is capable of this year.

A see-sawing game against arch-rivals Ballarat on Wednesday saw three Braves newcomers – Andrew Robinson (28 points), Rowan Mackenzie (22 points), and Koch Bar all contribute significantly to a game that was in the balance late in the final quarter.

The three new faces were backed up by impressive performances from Dylan McCauley (11 points), Lachlan and Liam O’Brien, and Billy Smythe, with early signs the team is gelling well.

For coach Stephen Black, the 86-97 loss to the Miners was full of lessons for his team.    

“Ballarat was probably one we let go. We would have loved to finish that off,” he said.

“I did like the way we went about it, but there were things we could clearly improve on, and that was what we did on Saturday night.”

Bendigo got off to a flyer at Red Energy Arena on Saturday night, leading 47-35 at half time.

Waverley got within three with 5.50 left in the third quarter, but one-and-a-half minutes later, Bendigo’s lead was back to 12, something Black was impressed with.

“That’s one of the things I will focus on this year,” he said.

“When teams did come at us previously, we didn’t handle it well, especially the increased physicality.

“But the way we went about rebuilding that lead on Saturday, through defense and ball movement, was the way we want to go about it.”

Bar top scored for Bendigo in its 90-73 win, with 20 points and 21 rebounds (11 offensive), helping the Braves dominate the key at both ends.

Robinson (20 points) and Mackenzie (19 points and eight rebounds), both capped off an impressive first week in the blue and gold. 

Lachlan O’Brien (13 points) and Smythe (11) regularly made important plays at both ends.

Black said Braves fans can expect to see more of that defensive action this season.

“We made it clear we are a defense-first team, and we need to take care of business there,” he said.

“The players who are coming in are positive and are very, very capable defensive players.

“They have shown in the first two games an appetite for that end of the court, and Mitch Clarke who will soon come in, will certainly continue that.

“The defensive end is going to be the important us, and I was pretty happy with that for the first two games.”

Photo Credit: Craig Dilks Photography