Hot Start Sees Tigers Take Down Under-14 Miners

Three games of VJBL basketball on Friday night at the MARS® MINERDOME, as the Under 14, 16 and 18 Miners all took on the Melbourne Tigers.

The Under-14 Miners got things under way with a slow start to their game, running their offense well but failing to convert on the scoreboard.

Melbourne’s defensive pressure quickly broke down Ballarat’s offense, as the Tigers burst out of the gates on their way to a 12-0 first quarter.

Darcy McEldrew finally got the first bucket of the game for the Miners, midway through the second term. This sparked an 8-0 Ballarat run and the Miners were back in the game.

Matthew Johnstone nailed a buzzer-beating layup and capped off a much-improved quarter for Ballarat, as they faced only a slight deficit at the main break.

The game continued to be a close one as both sides got settled in. An unrelenting Tigers outfit were clinging their lead throughout the hard-fought third period.

Still within striking distance, the Miners looked poised to make a run in the fourth and final stanza.

However Melbourne caught fire offensively early in the last, and quickly blew open an insurmountable lead. Ballarat falling short with a final score of 29-46.