For a second straight week, Melton Thoroughbreds have fallen short against Blackburn in Big V men’s division 1 basketball.
Only two points separated the sides in the final round of the regular season, so the Thoroughbreds knew they were in for a tough match in the qualifying final.
It wasn’t as close this time, but the Thoroughbreds pushed Blackburn all the way, eventually losing 73-67.
The Vikings, who are the title favourites, having won 21 games straight, started the game the stronger of the two teams. Leading from the first shot, they led by as much as six points in the opening period.
The Vikings hit the last basket of the quarter to lead by three points at quarter-time.
It was an even second quarter for the first six minutes before the Vikings found their rhythm to open up a 10-point lead by the main break.
Whatever was said to the Thoroughbreds at half-time worked, as they were the stronger team in the opening minutes of the second half.
The margin was reduced to three points by midway through the quarter and it looked like the crowd might be in for a thriller.
The Vikings responded, though, and were the better side for the rest of the third and pushing the margin back out to eight points.
In the last quarter, the Thoroughbreds needed to get on a run to cut the margin, but they could only get as close as three points.
In the last half of the quarter, the Vikings did what they needed to, maintaining their lead to win through to the preliminary finals.
Returning to the Thoroughbreds, Shane Moroney top scored with 14 points, while fellow big man Cameron McCallum chipped in with 12.
Brendan Trewella was the main destroyer for the Vikings, coming off the bench for 27 points.
All is not lost for the Thoroughbreds who get a second chance by hosting a semi-final this weekend.
They will play either Shepparton or Latrobe City.
