Illawarra Hawks forward Tim Coenraad is confident the Canberra Gunners can end their South-East Australian Basketball League play-off drought after he guided them to a statement victory over Geelong on Sunday.
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The 78-74 win over the previously unbeaten Supercats at Belconnen was the Gunners' second straight win after they began the season with three close defeats.
Down by 46-36 at half-time, the Gunners scored the first 13 points of the third term to grab momentum and closed out the game despite a few late hiccups.
Coenraad, who top-scored with 24 points, joined the Gunners this season and believes the team is starting to click after their slow start.
"I think at the start we didn't have enough time together but now we've got some chemistry," Coenraad said.
"We've found our identity, we need to get on the rim and get fouls, and rebound and push the ball.
"More than anything [in the second half] we showed a bit of heart, guys were diving on the ground and getting on the boards.
"They [Geelong] are a great team, they're going to the right in the finals but moving forward that's a real character win for us."
Gunners captain Ben Allen had a big game with 16 points and 14 rebounds, with guard Daniel Joyce racking up 15 points.
DeMarcus Gatlin (23 points, 11 rebounds) and Nathan Herbert (19 points, nine rebounds) worked hard, but Canberra's 27-13 third term proved the difference.
A former Most Valuable Player winner at the Hawks, Coenraad is off contract but is hopeful of returning to the NBL club.
"That's the process we're going through now, it's nerve-wracking and hopefully I'll be there in the end, it's up to them whether they want me back or not," Coenraad said.
"I want to focus on the SEABL season now and get these Canberra guys into the play-offs."
In the women's clash, Geelong bounced back from a 25-14 deficit at quarter-time to beat Canberra Capitals Academy 81-62.
Maddison Penn scored 30 points for Canberra, including six three-pointers, but Geelong's greater range of offensive options eventually told.
SEABL
Men: Canberra Gunners 78 (T Coenraad 24, B Allen 16, D Joyce 15) bt Geelong 74 (D Gatlin 23, N Herbert 19)
Women: Geelong 81 (R Cox 17, A Duck 17, N Hughes 16) bt Canberra Capitals Academy 62 (M Penn 30, A Davis 11)
