Melton Thoroughbreds are without a win in Big V men’s division 1 basketball, but the players reckon they’re getting close.
Having been at the top end of the ladder in the past couple of years, the Thoroughbreds have lost their first six games in a dramatic turnaround of form.
First-year Thoroughbreds coach John Allison said the season’s start had been frustrating.
“It has been very tough,” he said. “Some of the losses have been the ball not falling our way late in games.
“It’s been really frustrating as we believe we’ve been in most of the games.
“I don’t feel we are that far away. We need to get that one win and hopefully it’ll turn into two or three quickly.
“Everyone still believes we can do it.”
It was a familiar story again on Sunday for the Thoroughbreds, who lost to Keilor Thunder, 82-75.
Returning to the court after having a bye the previous weekend, the Thoroughbreds were within four points with a minute remaining, but couldn’t get the all important baskets to take the lead.
Ten points was the biggest margin for either side, in what was a close match.
Ivan Harris top-scored for the Thoroughbreds with 21, Billy Feben chipping in with 17.
The loss was a big improvement on the side’s first-round match with the Thunder, which it lost by 35 points.
Allison said before the game the Thoroughbreds were looking to redeem themselves after that performance.
He said the players knew they had the talent to get wins and that it was just a matter of putting it all together.
Allison refuses to blame missing players for the results.
“We need to get everyone back on the same page,” he said.
“We had a good pre-season game and went to a tournament in Ballarat and gelled really well.
“We’ve got kids that are capable, but they lack the experience to get it done. The game craft isn’t there – they’ve got to get experience and learn.”
One of the younger players getting opportunities is Billy Feben, who is averaging nearly 15 points a game,
“Billy has always been good,” Allison said. “He was playing behind Jeff Crowe who has left. We knew that he had the skills … now he’s getting the opportunities.”
The Thoroughbreds youth league men’s side also suffered a close loss on Sunday.
The Thoroughbrds fought back after a tough start to the game, outscoring the Casey Cavaliers 57-43 in the second half, but it wasn’t enough in the 100-96 loss. Broden Collins, Fernando Rios-Rodriguez and Koby Skenderis all scored at least 20 points.
The Thoroughbreds are sitting in ninth on the youth league division 2 ladder.
