Craigieburn matched it everywhere but on the scoreboard with Blackburn Vikings in Big V men’s division 1 basketball on Saturday.
The Eagles were made to pay for a slow start, losing 81-66 at the Craigieburn Leisure Centre.
The stats suggested nothing separated the two sides, which were just about equal in field goal shots and accuracy, rebounds and turnovers.
But the Vikings’ shooting from beyond the three-point line was the difference . . . they made 10 of 21 attempts, against the Eagles’ two of 13.
Blake Dickinson top-scored for the Eagles with 18 points.
The Eagles’ women’s side had a massive 71-46 win against Hawthorn Magic in division 1, outscoring it in every quarter.
In men’s state championship division, Hume City had a mixed weekend.
The Broncos’ slow start saw them 27 points down at half-time against McKinnon in the first game. They hit back in the second half but left it too late, losing 101-93. Jermaine Maybank had 25 points, while Jamal Brown chipped in with 26.
The second game was much closer, the Broncos beating Werribee Devils 82-78 at Broadmeadows Leisure Centre.
Maybank (25 points) and Brown (20) were again dominant on the scoreboard.
Whittlesea Pacers lost both their state championship matches, against Corio Bay and Ringwood.
