A RED-HOT Casey Cavaliers have sent an ominous warning to the rest of the Big V Youth Championship Men’s competition with a stunning fourth term to blow away fellow contender Dandenong Rangers at Casey Stadium yesterday afternoon. With the match delicately poised at 66 points apiece at the final change, Casey went to another level, pouring on 43 points to 21 to come away with the remarkable 109-87 citory.

BIG V YOUTH CHAMPIONSHIP MEN’S ROUND 3:

Dandenong headed into the clash undefeated, while Casey suffered its first loss the night before when it went down to Keilor Thunder, and the match hype was justified throughout the opening three quarters. Dandenong silenced the crowd early by leading 22-18 at the first change. However that changed through the second as the Cavaliers roared to life and levelled the scores by half-time. That evenness continued heading into the final break.

From there though, it was far from even as Casey went up a ridiculous notch, shooting 60 per cent from the three-points line – after only being 30 per cent or less – which saw the Cavaliers drain six three-pointers, almost totalling the Rangers’ fourth quarter score. By comparison, aside from two left-corner makes from beyond the arc, Dandenong was limited to its shooting in the key.

Feasting on buckets, Blake Shankland put up a match-high 29 points and 15 rebounds – balanced perfectly between eight offensive and seven defensive boards – as well as three blocks, three assists and two steals. Partner in crime Joel Robinson drained four of six from beyond the arc en route to 24 points, 12 rebounds and two blocks.

The duo did the bulk of the damage, however they definitely had help with Casey captain Jusitin Ochaya (16 points, eight rebounds, four steals and two assists) and Heath McPherson (11 points including three of six from beyond the arc) also contributing strongly.

For the Rangers, Kobe McMechan hit almost exclusively from long-range (5/7) on his way to 21 points as well as four rebounds, while David Amum (15 points, 10 rebounds) worked hard to pick up a double-double. Fraser Daff (14 points, six rebounds) was busy off the bench in 26 minutes for the Ranges.

AROUND THE COURTS

There were a number of thrilling contests across the weekend with Geelong United securing a nail-biting one-point win over Sandringham Sabres, a day after the Sabres had knocked off Melbourne Tigers by 18 points. Hume City Broncos won against Wyndham by two points, while Frankston Blues continued their outstanding season with a 20-point triumph over Nunawading followed by a five-point win against Eltham.

In other results, Keysborough Cougars added more pain to Wyndham with a comfortable 28-point triumph, as Knox Raiders accounted for Waverley Falcons by 12, and Kilsyth Cobras smashed Diamond Valley Eagles by 34.

ROUND 3 RESULTS: