His father, Ray Verdon, passed away during the week after a five month battle with skin cancer – aged 58.

Verdon was the man who introduced Mortimore to basketball as a child and he was the same man that has watched Mortimore at the Maitland Mustangs since he debuted as a 17-year-old in 1995.

“He was probably my number one fan and supporter,” Mortimore said.

“He ran the water bottles for us for a while, he was on the board for a number of years and he managed the team for a stage as well.”

Mortimore said the loss would lift him for Saturday’s crucial Waratah League match with the Sutherland Sharks.

“This weekend there will be a little extra motivation,” Mortimore said. “I will probably carry it with me on court.”

The 206cm centre has been in good form for the Mustangs this season and he said he was determined to do what he could to attain the Mustangs’ goal of a semi-final berth.

Mustangs coach Luke Boyle said it was a realistic aspiration for the Maitland squad in a tight Waratah League competition.

“Now that Bansktown has lost a few the fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth spots have the same type of win and loss record,” Boyle said.

The Mustangs are in eighth spot – one victory outside the top six – and Boyle will be wanting to add a win to the right column this weekend, which will be assisted by the inclusion of Mustangs skipper Josh Clifford. Clifford was involved in a scuffle during last week’s loss to the Sea Eagles and was sent a letter by the tribunal outlining that he had been charged with bringing the game into disrepute. There was no date supplied in regards to a tribunal hearing and no instruction on whether or not Clifford was suspended in the interim.

Clifford will more than likely take to the court, unless the Mustangs are otherwise notified before hand. Mustangs 17-year-old Matthew Dick has been put on notice by Boyle to expect more game time after an impressive performance in a losing team against the Sea Eagles on Saturday.

This may force Boyle to switch the starting line up around in order to add to the depth on the bench.

On the sidelines this weekend Mortimore said a collection tin for the Hunter Melanoma Foundation would be passed around the crowd to assist the organisation that assisted his late father. Verdon’s funeral will be held at St Augustine’s, Merewether, on Monday.

The Mustangs match against the Sharks tips off at the Maitland Federation Centre at 6pm.