By Tara Murray
Craigieburn Eagles had a mixed weekend in Big V men’s division 2, but ended it on a high, toppling the ladder leaders.
Looking to move into the top four after two straight losses, the Eagles faced the lower-ranked Melton Thoroughbreds on Saturday night, before backing it up against top-side Camberwell Dragons.
It was a disappointing start to the weekend at Melton.
Not much separated the teams the first
three quarters, with the Thoroughbreds leading by just two points heading into the final quarter.
The Thoroughbreds found another gear, with a 29-19 final quarter securing an upset win.
For the Eagles, big man Kewal Shiels top scored with 20 points and had 10 rebounds. Import Damon Smith was the only other player to score double figures.
The Eagles quickly had to turn their disappointment to motivation, returning home to face Camberwell Dragons on Sunday.
The Eagles jumped out of the blocks in the first quarter to open up a 14-point lead.
That margin was halved in the second quarter as the Dragons worked their way back into the game.
The Eagles found another level to blow the margin out to 16 points at the final break.
The Dragons launched one last comeback in the last quarter, but the damage had been done, with the Eagles winning 79-74.
Five points would be the closest they got in the final quarter.
Smith and Shiels both put up double-doubles for the Eagles, with Jackson Wynne scoring 10 points off the bench.
The win ended the Eagles three game losing streak and is their ninth win of the season.
PHOTO GALLERY: Melton Thoroughbreds vs Craigieburn Eagles
The Eagles women’s side had a big win against Latrobe City Energy.
The Eagles were switched on from the opening minute, keeping the Energy to just six points in the first quarter.
The Eagles extended their lead to 17 points at half-time.
The second half was a bit more up and down, with the Energy winning the third quarter, before the Eagles fought back in the last to win 87-70.
Four of the Eagles five starters all scored double figures, with Darcy Saunders, Giulia Dinunzio and Jada Buggs all scoring 20 points.
Buggs made it a double-double with 14 rebounds.
The win moves the Eagles up to fifth on the ladder.
Both Eagles teams have byes this weekend, with no matches across the Queen’s Birthday weekend.
In state championship division, it was a clean sweep for the Hume City Broncos.
The men’s team defeated Blackburn Vikings 105-92 on Saturday night, before beating the Keilor Thunder on Sunday, 113-106.
The women’s side defeated the Whittlesea Pacers, 99-54.
