Melton Thoroughbreds made sure of finishing in the top four of Big V men’s division 1 with a vital win over Warrnambool on Saturday.
In a match which pitted second against fourth, the lower-placed side came out on top in the 85-76 win.
It was an even first half, with the biggest margin a five-point lead to the Thoroughbreds early in the first quarter.
The Seahawks hit back to take the lead but then the two sides traded baskets. The Thoroughbreds led by two points at the main break.
The game opened up in the third quarter and the Thoroughbreds raced to a nine-point lead.
The margin got out to a game-high 17 points midway through the last quarter before the Seahawks started to cut it back. But they were never able to get any closer than eight points.
Ivan Harris top-scored for the Thoroughbreds with 25 points. Cameron McCallum, Matthew Jukes and Jason Todorov also reached double figures.
The Thoroughbreds remain fourth on the ladder, two games clear of fifth-placed Latrobe City with one round left.
Meanwhile, the Thoroughbreds’ youth league 2 men’s side made the finals despite a last-round loss to Pakenham.
The Thoroughbreds were one of three teams to finish on 11 wins and three losses.
They scraped into sixth place because of their better head-to-head record against Craigieburn.
