Werribee Devils held on to defeat the Eltham Wildcats 82-81 in a cliffhanger Big V basketball men’s championship season opener at the Werribee Sports and Fitness Centre on Sunday.
The Devils regained the lead with 15 seconds to go, through two successful free throws from point guard Jordan Hughes.
The Wildcats made one final push in the dying seconds, only for new Devils import Aaron McCuin to secure the defensive rebound and run down the clock.
PICTURE GALLERY: Werribee Devils v Eltham Wildcats
Devils coach Mark Hughes lauded a gritty performance from a team still getting used to its surroundings after a number of off-season changes.
“It’s a new group so the hardest part is getting them all on the same page,” he said. “We had to tough it out with our defence and we just came through in the end.
“To win at home is always special. You want to try and go unbeaten at home, and that’s the aim.”
It was fitting that McCuin would end up with the ball at the final buzzer after a stunning 26 points and 18 rebounds on debut for the Devils.
The 24-year-old, recruited from Fort Worth, Texas, via Paul Quinn College, was too much to handle on the inside for the Wildcats’ bigs.
“They found it hard to stop him because he’s so strong under the boards,” Hughes said. “He just competes on every possession, which is pleasing, and he demands a bit of respect in the paint.”
Jordan Hughes logged heavy minutes at the point, finishing with 25 points, three rebounds, two assists and two steals.
Hughes had his shooting struggles early in the game but came up with the big plays at the important times, including the game-winning free throws.
“He had a bit of a slow start, missed a few shots but then he got going in the second half and brought it home,” Hughes said.
“That’s what good players do.”
Jordan Hughes’s workload is about to be lightened with the arrival of a second import, Rustin Dowd. Dowd can play at the one or two spot, as both distributor or shooter, and has a history of leadership roles, being a long-time captain of MidAmerica Nazarene University in Kansas City.
Jonathan Sonda made a successful return to the court after a year away for study. He scored 17 points, reeled in eight rebounds and shot a perfect 7-from-7 from the free-throw line.
The Devils will play their first double- header of the season this weekend. They hit the road on Saturday night for a clash with McKinnon Cougars and return home for a Sunday matinee against Sherbrooke Suns.
