Chargers return to Mildura for Preliminary Final tilt

Dexter Fowler replicating last week's 40-point performance would go a long way to helping the Chargers to its first Big V Grand Final. Photo: PETER MARSHALL

SURF Coast Chargers’ Big V Men’s season comes to a head tonight (Saturday, August 17) in a win or go home Preliminary Final against Mildura.

The Chargers will meet Mildura on the border for the second time in a fortnight for a chance to play in this year’s Big V Division 2 Men’s Grand Final.

Head coach David Scott said his side, which won 104-90 against Southern Peninsula last weekend in the Semi-Final, will look to lean on the experience of its most recent visit to Mildura, where it lost to the Heat 92-80 in a tale of two halves.

“We’re immensely proud of how far we’ve come first of all, this is our third season in the Big V, and we’ve gone from bottom of the ladder, to just missing out on finals, to now reaching a Preliminary Final.

“We know last time out we couldn’t get the job done against Mildura, but we know we can beat this side with a full squad.

“It’ll come down to the basics and making sure we string together four consecutive quarters of good basketball.”

There were plenty of positives to come out of last week’s win against the Sharks, headlined by Dexter Fowler’s 40-point performance.

Tyler Erard was the only other player to reach the 20-point plateau.

Harry Moran finished the outing with 17 points and 13 rebounds, further bolstered by captain Jason Reardon’s five points and 12 rebounds in the frontcourt.

“The crowd support is really what got us over the line last weekend, the boys really thrived on that home support, but we are fully aware we’ll be getting the opposite to that in Mildura,” Scott said.

“Having done the trip a couple of times now, we’d like to think we know how to prepare for that environment, but it’s going to be great game we expect no matter what.”

Scott’s assessment of this season’s progress has been an unprecedented one for the Chargers’ senior men’s program, reaching a Preliminary Final for the first time in its third season at the Big V level.

Should Surf Coast prevail at the Mildura Hothouse after the 7pm tip-off today, it will meet Craigieburn in the Division 2 Grand Final on August 24.

Surf Coast’s Big V Women’s side will play in its own Preliminary Final tonight, meeting Melbourne University at Wurdi Baierr Stadium for a chance to play in the Division 2 Grand Final.