MELTON produced with backs-to-the-wall against Western Port on Saturday night to create a first win of the Big V Basketball division 2 season.
After illness and injury swept through the team during the week, the Thoroughbreds didn’t train yet they had the legs in game time to run out a 75-60 winner at Somerville Rec Centre.
The Breds are now one-and-four and off the foot of the table heading into their clash against third-placed Keilor Thunder (3-2).
The Breds, led by Marty Pietrykowski’s 18 points and 17 rebounds, had four in double figures on Saturday night. Michael McCallum (13 and 15), Jordan Kirk (15 points) and Paul Ross (13) were other leading scorers.
A strong start had Melton up by double figures for much of the second and third quarters, albeit with only seven players to rotate on the court.
When Western Port closed to within 8 points in the last quarter, Pietrykowski went on a run of eight straight points to close the door on any comeback. “We had some game-time decisions after a couple of injuries during the week playing stadium basketball, and with sickness going through the team we were at our limit,” coach Grant Spencer said.
“We got off to a great start and we have been able to score quite easily, but it’s defending teams that has been our issue. At half-time I said we had to keep communicating with each other.
“Western Port started getting on top because they had three six-foot-10 guys and we only had seven [in the squad].”
Spencer praised “immense” efforts of McCallum and Pietrykowski to battle under the boards and drag down a combined 30 rebounds.
“It was a fantastic result and if we can get everybody healthy it should be a good week on the practise court.”
A match against a touring under-19 team from Liaoning, China, will be part of the midweek preparation.
Melton’s youth league 2 men improved to five wins and one loss with a 55-45 win against Craigieburn on Saturday. Jordan Rhodes (19 points) and James Mullins (16) led the scoring.
