Sharks Halt Magic's Revival

Added 12 May 2008

The Hawthorn Magic celebrated Mother's Day with a double header of BigV Basketball at BSC. The womens team taking on the Diamond Valley Eagles and the men taking on the Southern Peninsula Sharks.

The Magic women started the game slowly, finding themselves down by 6 points until Tash Ross-Harris was injected into the game. Ross-Harris had an instant impact on the glass and on the scoreboard as she led the Magic to a 16-14 quarter time lead. However, the Eagles stepped it up the second quarter, restricting the Magic to a measly 3 points while scoring 21 themselves to open up a 35-19 half time lead. Hawthorn were unable to make any inroads into the huge deficit as Diamond Valley ran away with a 67-48 victory.

For the Magic, Ross-Harris led the way with 10 points and 12 rebounds while Charlotte Sumskas chipped in with 9 points on 100% shooting from the floor in 9 minutes.

Saturday night saw the Magic mens team travel to the Veneto Club to take on Bulleen where Jay Allen (26 points) and Seb Belfrage (17 points and 15 rebounds) led the Magic to 89-81 victory, their 3rd consecutive. They were looking to continue their run at home to the Southern Peninsula Sharks. Neither team was able to establish their dominance in the first quarter as the Sharks took the narrowest of margins in to the 2nd quarter, 26-25. Southern Peninsula did however pull away in the 2nd quarter on the back of Jared Swanson and Shaun O'Reilly. Jeremy Caust was the only shining light for the Magic as he tried to keep the Magic within touching distance. Following the half time break where they found themselves down 55-36, the Magic launched one of their customary back to the walls run as the closed the gap to as little as 7 points. But the Sharks held their nerve as closed out the match 111-97.

Hawthorn were led by Caust who finished 31 points and Matt Slaven who backed up his 16 point effort against Bulleen with another 16 against the Sharks. However, it was not enough as Swanson and O'Reilly were unstoppable all night finishing with 73 points and 19 rebounds between them.

The loss leaves the Magic's playoff hopes hanging in the balance while the womens team remains rooted to the bottom of the ladder. BigV basketball returns to BSC next Saturday night (17 May) with a double header from 6pm. So following your domestic game, come down to the BSC and support our senior basketball program.

Thanks to 5ive Fingas and JP for the happy snaps.

Jazzy's Blog: Livin' It Up at the Hotel Mildura
Em's Blog: Magic Dissapointing On The Road
20/20 Vision For The Magic
2008 Hawthorn Magic BigV Fixtures
2008 Hawthorn Magic BigV Squads
2008 BigV Season Photos in the Gallery