By Tara Murray
Melton Thoroughbreds have missed out on finals by the barest of margins in Big V women’s division 2.
Hoping to make finals in their second season back in the competition, the Thoroughbreds’ fate came down to the final round.
The Thoroughbreds finished the season in sixth.
Three teams, including Melton, finished with 10-8 records and had to be split by head-to-head records.
The Thoroughbreds lost both games to Blackburn, while they split their games against Sherbrooke.
Sherbrooke, though, scored six more points in those two games – meaning Melton should miss out on finals.
Thoroughbreds coach Lauren Olcorn said it was disappointing to fall short.
“It’s a little disappointing to be part of a three-way tie,” she said.
“There was a few games which could have gone our way … hurt us the most.
“Hopefully we can continue to build and secure a top-five spot next season.”
While disappointed, Olcorn was thrilled with how the side finished the season by winning its last three games.
“I’m absolutely ecstatic with the three wins towards the end of the season,” she said.
“They worked really hard quarter by quarter at such an important part of the season. We’ve got together quite well … There’s been some ups and downs, but we worked together on the things we needed to.”
On Saturday night, the Thoroughbreds defeated Sherbrooke Suns 56-47. The match went down to the final quarter, with scores level at three-quarter time. The Thoroughbreds won the last quarter by nine points.
Olcorn said they stepped up defensively when it was required.
“We played four good quarters of basketball,” she said. “We came together as a team and tried a few things differently … we needed to do something to get across the line and give us some oomph.
“We could then change and get them to rethink their plans before they were settled. We needed to do that to get across the line.”
Four of the five Thoroughbreds scored double figures. Jenna Conroy top-scored with 15 points.
Meanwhile, the Thoroughbreds’ men’s season ended with an 87-78 victory.
Daniel Jackson top-scored with 23 points as five of the eight players finished with double figures.
The Melton Thoroughbreds finished the season seventh, one place outside finals.
