MELTON Thoroughbreds dealt with distance and the tough opposition to emerge four-point winners from their trip to Horsham in Big V basketball at the weekend.
With their 67-63 victory, the Thoroughbreds inflicted a third loss of the season on the Hornets, previously ladder leaders.
Craigieburn now leads men’s division 2 with a 10-win, three-loss record; Horsham is second with the same record and Melton third with eight wins and three losses.
Melton had only nine players available to make the road trip. In a smaller line-up than usual, Jeff Crowe went into the starting five.
The Thoroughbreds opened strongly in the first quarter, despite a loud local crowd, with Maverick Clissold scoring Melton’s first seven points for a 29-22 lead at the end of the first quarter.
The scoring slowed in the second term, but the Thoroughbreds extended their lead through some inspiring play by captain Jordan Kirk to stretch the lead to 12 (45-33) at the half.
Melton’s third quarters had been a weak spot recently, but the Thoroughbreds broke even to keep the 12-point advantage going into the last term.
The Hornets finished the third quarter strongly and continued to outplay the Thoroughbreds in the fourth, forcing turnovers and bad shots as the visitors fatigued.
The lead dropped to as little as two with only minutes to play before Jason Christian and Crowe sealed the win with four clutch free throws in the final minute.
Jordan Kirk, who has this week been named as a Big V ‘Big Bounce’ all-star game player, led the Thoroughbreds with 22 points and 6 rebounds. Clissold also stepped up in the absence of ‘bigs’ Martin Pietrykowski and Matt Strutynski to record a huge double double with 18 points and 19 rebounds.
Crowe added 13 points and three assists.
The road trips keep coming for Melton after Queen’s Birthday weekend – it’s away at Western Port on Sunday, June 17.
– with Todd Anderson
Next week: Melton Basketball Association junior grand finals wrap and pictures in the Weekly.
