IN ONE of the most entertaining finishes of the Big V Youth Championship Men’s season, the Frankston Blues chalked out a three-point victory (88-85) over the Melbourne Tigers at Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre on Sunday morning.

It marked the Tigers’ second clash of Round 8, having lost to the Eltham Wildcats in a blowout on the road, so Melbourne was looking for some redemption here. On the other hand, the Blues were fresh and ready to go in their first match of the week, although would face a challenge against a dangerous Tigers side.

It was the perfect start for Frankston at MSAC, storming out of the gates with the first seven points of the game to silence the Tigers crowd. The Blues were finding baskets everywhere, and even when Melbourne got going later in the term, Frankston still had the offensive firepower to stay in front and eventually lead by eight points at quarter time.

The second quarter was much more even, with both sides starting the term looking to score through their shooting. However, as the period rolled on, both the Tigers and the Blues were looking to push the ball inside, and it resulted in several converted and-one plays. Although Melbourne looked more up to the challenge in the second frame, the deficit remained the same as the Blues maintained control of the match.

The Tigers responded brilliantly out of half time, controlling the third term to ensure it was game on in the final two quarters. Kobe Shewry‘s ability to drive inside and draw contact proved instrumental in the comeback, and at the final change, it was just a two-point game and it was the Tigers who held all the momentum.

It was an extremely tight finish to the match, as every time the Tigers managed to tie up the match, Frankston was able to answer down the other end in a constant game of cat and mouse. A turnaround jumper to Fred Hayne gave the Tigers the lead for the first time midway through the fourth, and a triple to Vasileios Delichristos extended that margin out to four points, as it looked as if Melbourne was going to run away with it.

The Tigers held their four-point lead into the final minute, before a Blake Jackson three-pointer breathed some life into the Blues. Ultimately, a late triple to Lachlan Kanngiesser proved the matchwinning play, giving Frankston back the lead as the visitors held on for a gutsy win.

Skipper Maddox Parsons led the way with 16 points on 5/8 shooting from the field to go with his eight rebounds, while Jackson (14 points, 5/8 FG), Kanngiesser (13 points, 3/8 3PT) and Jesse Lans (10 points, seven assists) all impressed.

Justin Bond was immense in dragging his side back into the contest, and finished with a game-high 21 points, while Shewry was not too far behind with 18 points of his own as the duo tried their best to get the Tigers to victory.

ACROSS THE COURTS

Keilor (65) def. by Diamond Valley (74)
Wyndham (102) def. by Dandenong (106)
Nunawading (80) def. Geelong United (71)
Eltham (89) def. Melbourne (64)
Hume City (86) def. by Casey (101)
Waverley (67) def. by Kilsyth (103)
Dandenong (106) def. Keysborough (87)
Knox (95) def. Hume City (66)
Sandringham (76) def. by Eltham (77)
Keilor (88) def. Nunawading (64)