Melton Thoroughbreds have held their nerve late to notch up a fighting victory over the Mornington Breakers in Big V women’s division 2.
After a good start, the Thoroughbreds saw their lead shrink in the second half.
Having been in that situation before, they were keen to ensure victory didn’t slip away, successfully digging in for a 50-48 win.
Thoroughbreds coach Lauren Olcorn was proud of the spirit on show.
“To fight out the game like that, you needed a four full-quarter effort,” she said.
“It was one of those games we had to fight hard for. The first quarter was the key for us.
“In the other quarters we had different options that we should have taken, but didn’t. We managed to hold on to the lead.”
Olcorn said that having been in a similarly challenging situation earlier in the season, they had worked hard on what tactics to use.
“It’s something that we have to keep working on,” she said.
“We don’t want to get into positions which are two-point games.
“We’ll push forward and make the right decisions as a team.”
On a tough shooting night, both sides scored at 27 per cent and less than that from beyond the arc.
Olcorn said that was down to defensive pressure put on by both sides.
She said the Thoroughbreds had shot well in the first quarter before the pressure was increased.
Stacey Procak top scored for the Thoroughbreds with 11 points.
The victory, the Thoroughbreds’ sixth, once again gives them an even ledger for the
season.
They remain sixth, with eight of the 10 teams still in finals contention.
Olcorn said finals were still clearly the goal.
“We’ll be pushing for the top four,” she said. “There’s three or four teams that are level on games and pushing for the top four.
“The likes of Coburg and Wallan we still have to play again …two teams we can beat.”
The Thoroughbreds this week will face second-placed Melbourne University Black Angels at home.
The Thoroughbreds won the season’s first encounter between the teams.
The Thoroughbreds’ men’s side lost a thriller on the road to Mildura Heat.
With just seven players making the trip, it was always going to be difficult for the Thoroughbreds.
When import Chris Johnson was in foul trouble early, it was looking even tougher.
Despite that, Melton earned itself a nine-point lead at half-time.
But then the Thoroughbreds ran out of legs in the last quarter and were over-run by the Heat, which won 87-85. Johnson was the star for the Thoroughbreds with 33 points and 14 rebounds. The loss leaves the Thoroughbreds 7-8 and in seventh spot.
The Thoroughbreds’ youth league men’s side had an 88-80 win against Mornington Breakers.
Max Beaumont top scored for Melton with 26 points.
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