THE first game of the Bunbury A-grade basketball season saw the Bullets arrive at the South West Sports Centre with new coach Paul Dugan, four debutantes and seasoned veterans.
The Busselton Bullets were keen to get the season underway against reigning premiers Aces Navy last Friday.
The Bullets came together for just one complete training session before the season to allow Ethan Bowman, Adam Dehring, Damien Lee, Jake Dugan, Jalen Hoffman and Jacob Ness to give their bodies a rest following their Busselton Football Club commitments.
However, the Bullets came out firing and went to an early lead.
With Lee controlling the tempo, Todd Earle knocking down three-point shots, Beau Chinnery making buckets and Dehring establishing his dominance inside, the Bullets set up a 36-19 lead at half time.
Navy came out determined after the break.
They began knocking down shots, and appeared to increase their defensive intensity.
Solid minutes off the bench from Ryan Booth, Hoffman and Ness gave the starters a rest and the Bullets were able to withstand Navy's run.
Navy got to within nine points of the Bullets but the team steadied to hold a 15 point advantage with two and a half minutes left on the clock.
Navy continually fouled the Bullets players in the last two minutes in an attempt to send them to the line and hope the Bullets missed.
This worked to an extent as the Bullets players didn't take advantage from the free throw line.
But the lead was significant enough to hold on and grab a 78-71 victory.
Top scorers: B Lee 22, G Dehring 18, B Chinnery 16, T Earle 15.
