THE wins keep coming for Melton Thoroughbreds after a 22-point victory against Cranbourne on Saturday capped three in a row in Big V men’s division two basketball.
The Thoroughbreds have climbed to fourth in the 11-team division after the 71-49 win, set up by dominant quarters either side of half-time.
Melton’s five-win, two-loss record is as good as any team to have played only seven games in the division. Ladder leader Horsham is 7-2 from nine games.
The game started in a scrap, though, with Melton the only team to score in the first five minutes.
Click on the image below for our picture gallery of the big game.
Cranbourne worked its way into the contest but Jeff Crowe’s buzzer-beating three on quarter time seized the lead back for Melton.
Melton’s speed on the floor was its advantage in the second quarter as Crowe and Prince Coleman stretched the Cranbourne defence to ignite a 12-2 run at the end of the half.
Cranbourne couldn’t close the gap in the third quarter, allowing a spread of minutes for the player rotation in the final quarter.
Matt Strutynski dominated the boards with 20 on a night when Melton out-rebounded Cranbourne 69-40.
Martin Pietrykowski was the only Thoroughbred in double figures with 13 points, while Rhyce Meddings handed off a team-high six assists.
Shooting was down for both teams all game as Melton shot 29.1 per-cent from the field to Cranbourne’s
28.8 per cent. Melton’s three-win streak will go on the line at home against Western Port (seventh, 3-4) this weekend.
It’s a 7pm Saturday tip-off at Melton Indoor Recreation Centre.
– with Sean Dixon
