WARRNAMBOOL Seahawks will play Country Basketball League south-west finals.
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The Big V development side capped off its regular season campaign with an 87-59 win against Portland Coasters at the Arc on Saturday night.
Warrnambool finished fourth with a 9-5 win-loss record.
Mount Gambier Lakers, Horsham Hornets and Corio Bay Stingrays also made the south-west finals.
Big V Seahawks co-coach Tim Gainey coached the CBL side on Saturday night, in the absence of regular leader Barry Brooks.
Gainey said consistent scoreboard pressure helped the Seahawks to their 28-point win.
Leigh Saffin (17 points), Josh Dean (16), James Mitchell (15) and Damian Gray (14) were the side’s leading scorers.
Portland’s Jamie Blacksell was the game’s top-scorer with 19 points.
Blacksell was the only Coaster to reach double figures.
Gainey said the Seahawks controlled the momentum.
“It was tight the first five minutes and then we pressed,” he said yesterday.
“The lead was up to 20 points when we pressed and we kept it going.
“They never got within 20 points.
“The guys played well and executed well.”
Gainey, who already has a thorough knowledge of the CBL roster, said it was a worthwhile experience coaching Big V hopefuls.
“I watched to see their strengths and weaknesses are,” he said.
“It was good for me to see.”
The Seahawks will finalise their 2013 Big V roster by mid-February.
Gainey said they hoped to have an American import secured in the coming weeks.
“It’s down to five guys. We’ll give the guys a call and hopefully have one picked out in the next two weeks,” he said.
Gainey said all five “can play” and the process focused on the off-court aspects, such as involvement with junior basketball, refereeing and school visits
Meanwhile, the Warrnambool Annual Seaside Classic, which has attracted 64 teams, finishes today. There will be finals and grand finals across seven grades.
justine.mc@fairfaxmedia.com.au