The Tornadoes host winless Timboon Taipans and south-west conference contender Horsham Hornets in a Country Basketball League double-header this weekend.

They play the Taipans tonight and Hornets tomorrow afternoon.

Terang co-coach Scott Judd said the Tornadoes, who have one win from their opening four matches, were desperate to start both games strongly. 

“Our main motto this weekend is to start the games with intensity instead of starting at half-time,” he said.

The Tornadoes will unveil teenage guard Scotty Carlin tonight. 

Judd said the 14-year-old, a talented footballer who was runner-up in the Hampden league’s under 14½ best and fairest this year, was a creative player who deserved to make his senior debut.

“He is quite intelligent for his age; he clicks on to what we’re doing,” he said.

“He’ll get a bit of court time, definitely.”

Judd said the chance to play two games at home was exciting for Terang, which is hoping to get “a decent crowd after the Noorat show and Dunkeld races” for tonight’s contest.

He expects Timboon, which was gallant in a loss to league pace-setter Mount Gambier Lakers in its last start, to relish the chance to play a south-west rival.

“They will put up a fight and we expect them to come out with a bit of intensity at the start of the game,” Judd said.

“Hopefully our game smarts come out and give us a bit of a lead.”

Judd rates tomorrow’s clash against Horsham “a tough task”.

“We are putting a strong team in but we won’t have Sam Spencer, so we’re losing our tall because of work,” he said.

Warrnambool Seahawks, Warrnambool Mermaids and Portland Coasters all have byes.

justine.mc@fairfaxmedia.com.au