Sport
29 October, 2025
Redbacks unleash venom on the Lakers
The Ararat Redbacks have drawn first blood in their quest for the Country Basketball League South West Division championship in 2025 following a strong win over powerhouse Mt Gambier Lakers in round four at Ararat Sports and Leisure Centre last Sunday.
With both teams boasting NBL1 players, and both teams expecting to be there at the pointy end of the season, a tough contest was expected, and both teams did not disappoint.
Despite playing Millicent the night before, the Lakers started strong, drawing out to a four-point lead early before Ararat pegged it back to level the scores with four and a half minutes left in the first.
The Lakers drew away again, leading by six points before a late quarter surge saw Ararat trail by two points at quarter-time.
Zac Dunmore had a day out in the second quarter, scoring 15 points to help guide Ararat to a 19-point lead at half-time.
Josh and Ethan Fiegert scored the first two baskets for Ararat in the third to extend the lead to 24 points.
As all good teams do, the Lakers started to peg the margin back and kept the contest physical as they reduced the margin to 15 points at three-quarter time.
The Lakers didn’t have weary legs, and through Simon and Matthew Berkefeld, they started making baskets and reduced the margin to the 11 to 14 range for a few minutes, before reducing the margin to six with two minutes to go.
Oliver Thomson hit a three-pointer for the Lakers, which reduced the margin to three points with 1:24 remaining in the match.
Dunmore made an important basket for the Redbacks and was fouled in the process and bringing the lead back out to six points.
The Lakers then brought the ball to the other end of the court, missed a three, but forced a turnover on the rebound, and Simon Berkefeld capitalised to reduce the margin to three points with thirty seconds remaining.
The Redbacks brought the ball to the other end of the court, and Dunmore was fouled, nailing the two free throws to extend the margin back out to five points with 15 seconds left in the match.
Shaun Lock nailed a three for the Lakers, but it was too late, with the buzzer sounding shortly after and Ararat coming away with a strong win.
Dunmore scored a game-high 43 goals, while Ethan Fiegert contributed 27 and Joshua Fiegert and Ethan Lindeblad scored 14 and 10, respectively.
Redbacks coach Joshua Fiegert was proud of his troops.
“It was a well-fought first three quarters,” Fiegert said.
“The first quarter was pretty even, and then we were able to break away and get a comfortable lead. It was a little too comfortable as we started to take the foot off the throttle in the last, and let them put full gas into it, and they came back.
“I am proud of the boys for holding on, especially with the amount of foul trouble both teams were in. It was a whistle-heavy game and I am very proud.”
Fiegert credited the Lakers for their comeback.
“They didn’t let the lead defeat them, and it’s a credit to them as they are a solid team and solid outfit even without Kane de Wit, so it will be a bonus to them when he is back in the team,” Fiegert said.
“They are a great outfit and we can’t wait to verse them later in the season should that eventuate, and the boys will take massive confidence from this game.”
The addition of Zac Dunmore and Ethan Fiegert to the team this season has worked wonders, and Fiegert said they all know each other, which makes it easier to coach.
“I played with both of them for a very long time, and Zac with my whole basketball career,” Fiegert said.
“There’s not much we don’t know about each other, and we know where each other is going to be.
“There’s not much I can teach them, so I let them have free rein and let them have fun and bring the energy.”
The Redbacks have now moved to second on the table and will host Colac on Sunday, who also have three wins for the season.
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