Melton Thoroughbreds and Bacchus Marsh Lions women’s sides will fight off for Basketball Victoria Country Basketball League grand final spots.
The two sides had cemented their finals spots heading into the final round of matches but locked in second and fourth spot respectively on the weekend.
The Thoroughbreds finished the regular season with some mixed results.
They started the weekend on Saturday night against the Maryborough Blazers in a top of the table clash.
A 29-5 first quarter from the Blazers set the tone for the match and the Thoroughbreds never recovered.
The Blazers were able to win every quarter on the way to a 94-57 win.
Isabella Paddon top scored with 14 points for the Thoroughbreds.
They were able to quickly bounce back on Sunday against the Macedon Ranges Rockies to lock in second spot.
The Thoroughbreds were able to win each quarter narrowly to come away with an 88-61 win.
Lily Storer top scored with 27 points while Ameir Majur scored 24 points.
The Thoroughbreds will face the Bendigo Braves in a semi final.
The Lions will also go into the finals on a winning note, as they beat the Swan Hill Flyers on Saturday night.
The Lions led front start to finish and were able to build the lead in every quarter on the way to a 91-64 win.
Jordy Wilson took home player of the game with a near triple-double performance of 11 points, 10 rebounds, 7 assists and 5 steals in a huge defensive effort.
Magdalene Kratochvil scored 20 points for the Lions as well.
The Lions will face the Maryborough Blazers on Saturday night.
Basketball Victoria has announced that the north-west grand finals will be held at Melton the following weekend.
Also hoping to make it through to the grand finals, is Melton in the men’s north-west competition.
The Thoroughbreds split their final rounds results.
They started the weekend with a win against the Blazers on Saturday night.
The Thoroughbreds led narrowly all night and won 90-80.
Hunter Salmons top scored with 21 points.
It was a finals match up in the Thoroughbreds final match of the regular season as it played the Rockies.
The Rockies got home 115-112. Salmons top scored for the Thoroughbreds with 33 points.
The Thoroughbreds and Rockies will be again in action in the first week of finals with a grand final spot on the line. The win on Sunday locked in the home final for the Rockies.
The Lions men’s side finished the season with an 80-76 loss.
Last season losses saw the Lions fall out of finals contention.
Tara Murray
