AS the old adage goes: a champion team will always beat a team of champions.
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And it's one that rings true for the 2015 Albury-Wodonga Bandits.
Supremely talented individually, opposition teams' scouting reports must have been the stuff of nightmares.
Focus on MVP Cory Dixon? Donte Nicholas takes over.
You've stopped Nicholas? Deba George is raining three-pointers on your parade.
Cooled down Deba? Watch out for Daniel Sepokas. Or Matt de Koeyer. Or super-sub Alex Bogart-King.
On Saturday night, in this particular group's biggest match so far, it was Clay McMath's turn.
We're a dangerous team to play against, especially in a building with support like this.
- Clay McMath
The 203cm centre, recruited from Townsville's NBL outfit, constantly stretched the Supercats' defense with his outside marksmanship.
He was the perfect foil to Dixon, who was unstoppable inside early.
McMath's numbers added up: 21 points to lead the Bandits, five three pointers, five rebounds and immeasurable inspiration.
“There's five guys on the floor that the opposition has to respect,” McMath said, championship medallion around his neck.
“They're not able to step up on me when Cory's inside so Cory was really opening it up for me.”
McMath's night looked shaky early, whistled for two fouls in the opening stanza and forced to cool his heels on the bench.
When he returned in the second, he did so with hustle and intensity — as is his wont — and made up for his early misdemeanors with strong work on the boards and connections from long-range.
He had nine points at the half and his impression had been felt.
In the fourth, after the Supercats had erased a 16-point lead, his defence came to the fore, several stops on the dangerous Kimmani Barrett making way for the Bandits to secure a second conference title in three years.
“I don't even have words," McMath said.
“We expected to win, but actually getting it done is unbelievable.
“Even if we didn't win, this is such a great group of guys.
“Everyone's used to being the No.1 guy on their team who could go for 30 or 40 and everyone sacrificed that for the good of the team and this is what we get for it.”
McMath also paid tribute to the fans for turning the Lauren Jackson Sports Centre into a true fortress — the Bandits losing just once at home this season.
“We're a dangerous team to play against, especially in a building with support like this," he said.
But the job isn't done just yet.
"One more to go," he said.
