A CLUTCH jump shot ended Warrnambool Seahawks’ quest for a drought-breaking Big V title on Saturday night.
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Latrobe City Energy guard Jordan Canovan sank the heartbreaking basket in the dying stages of the see-sawing quarter-final at the Arc.
The Seahawks were left with seven seconds to conjure a score – three for a win or two to send the game into overtime – but Curtis Ryan’s last-ditch attempt missed, leaving the 1000-strong crowd flat.
Warrnambool was eliminated from the championship race on the back of the 87-85 loss.
The Seahawks dug themselves out of a hole to be in a match-winning position.
They turned a 15-point third-quarter deficit into a 63-62 lead at the final change after a stunning turnaround.
Boom import Alex Starling, veterans Tim Gainey and Matt Alexander and guard Josh Dean were vital in a 11-0 run which stunned the Energy.
A Dean steal set up a Starling jump shot which gave the Seahawks a one-point lead and the momentum going into the fourth term.
Warrnambool held sway for most of the final quarter with Starling –offensively with a dunk and defensively with a huge rejection – and Ryan telling.
Ryan drained a triple to put the Seahawks five points up with 2.38 to play.
Their lead was trimmed before Starling again put them five points clear after a trip to the free throw line.
But the Energy came again and scores were tied at 85 apiece with 51 seconds on the clock.
Seahawks coach Bobby Cunningham was disappointed with the result but proud of his charges’ efforts.
“I’m sitting back counting all the ‘what ifs’, but it is what it is,” he said.
“The other team played an inspired game and we played an inspired game.”
Cunningham said Canovan showed poise to sink the match-winner.
“They scored the last time they had the ball and we didn’t,” he said.
“Josh (Dean) stayed in front of him and stayed in front of the basket. But he hit it. Take your hat off to him.”
Cunningham said the crowd inspired the Seahawks, helping them rally when they were in a third-term slump.
“They got us up and going and didn’t let us quit,” he said.
“Even when we were down 15 points you heard ‘d-fence, d-fence.”
“We got back and took the lead which was really pleasing.
“Once we got our noses in front we were thinking ‘we’re a chance to run it out’.
“Guys were making big plays and big shots down the stretch.”
Starling finished with a game-high 31 points and 12 rebounds and Gainey (15 points, 13 boards) was important.
Ryan scored 17 points for the third straight game and Alexander’s experience in the paint was vital in the Seahawks’ comeback.
Cunningham is eager to coach again in 2016 and help the club break its 18-year title drought.
“I think I want to do it again and try and build on the momentum because we did good this year,” he said.
“I am upset for the guys and I am especially upset for Tim Gainey (after our finals exit).
“We’ll see what we can do next year to get Tim a premiership because that man deserves one.”