Tara Murray
Melton Thoroughbreds found their groove when it mattered to get a second straight win in the Big V men’s division 2 competition on Saturday night.
After a tough shooting night for the first three quarters, the Thoroughbreds outscored Mornington Breakers, 28-16 in the final term to come away with an 84-75 win.
Thoroughbreds coach Mick McCallum said they will take that result at their home court.
“The boys worked hard for it,” he said.
“We started off really slow, but were getting some good looks, which we would normally hit.
“We stuck to what we do and stuck to our structures.”
Despite a slow start, the Thoroughbreds led by five points at quarter time. The Breakers took control in the second quarter to lead by three points at the main break.
The margin remained that heading into the final quarter.
McCallum said they always backed their group in to get the job done.
“As a group we know that we had to stick with what we were doing to get it done,” he said.
“We could not play three bad quarters in a row. We weren’t at our best yet, but I always had a feeling that we would come good in the end.
“Half way through the last quarter we started hitting our shots.”
Koby Skenderis top scored with 24 points, including hitting four three pointers.
The two Allison brothers, Liam and Blake, scored 20 points apiece.
The match was Blake’s first for the season. He came off the bench as he still finds his game fitness.
“Blake is still not 100 per cent,” McCallum said. “He brings the whole team together, strong and united.”
The Thoroughbreds enter the Easter break with a 2-2 record. McCallum said he would have taken that at the start of the season.
“We’ve still got players out at the moment,” he said. “Aaron Gadsden is a starter who is missing.
“To come to the Easter break 2-2 with half the team missing, I’m really happy.”
McCallum said they were hoping that Gadsden, who played in the opening round, would be back after the Easter break. He said they were then keen to make a good run of it this season, the first together as a group.
“Once we get everyone back on the floor, hopefully we’ll have a good patch,” he said.
“We’ll stick to the system and play solid defence.”
The Thoroughbreds next match is against the winless Sherbrooke Suns in a 3pm Sunday game on the road.
It was a tough night for the Thoroughbreds youth league men’s side against the Sunbury.
The Thoroughbreds trailed 26-0 at quarter time, with the Jets extending their lead in every quarter, winning 121-38.
Tyson Hamilton top scored with 10 points for the Thoroughbreds.
The Thoroughbreds are without a win after four matches.
