By JARROD POTTER
DANDENONG snatched victory, 85-79, in a last minute thriller over Bendigo to book a passage back to the SEABL championship match.
It was classic back and forth basketball for the first three quarters of the SEABL East Conference final and the match looked set to break open as the Rangers pushed to a 10-point lead closing in on the end of the third term.
Daequon Montreal entered foul trouble in the third and was forced to sit the next 10 minutes out – leaving Dandenong mismatched under the hoop against Bendigo’s tall timber Ivan McFarlin and Tom Garlepp.
Bendigo persevered to keep their chances alive – trailing by seven with a quarter to go.
The final term started well for Dandenong – Tony Lewis drained a huge three-pointer to help him along to 23 points and 14 rebounds for the match.
Bendigo fought back through Kevin Probert – clutchly striking two important treys – to bring the gap down to three with five minutes left.
It forced Dandenong coach Darren Perry to bring Montreal back on and his star guard/forward made it count immediately with an important block most wouldn’t go for with one foul remaining.
Missed free throws on both sides were costly, but Dandenong started to stretch the Bendigo resolve and push ahead.
Three points ahead with 24 seconds left, Dandenong regained the ball after a controversial travel call on Bendigo’s Garlepp – with the Braves’ tall abusing the umpiring, earning two technical fouls and effectively ending the match as Montreal hit three of the four ensuing free throws.
Andrew Harms was critical – hitting 24 points – while Montreal had 16 and six rebounds and Brent Hobba chipped in for 11 points/six rebounds.
Dandenong has been on fire on the road this finals series – knocking off Geelong and Bendigo away from Rangers’ Stadium.
As an unintended benefit of the successful East conference victory, Dandenong will technically host Mt Gambier in the SEABL grand final, after the Pioneers knocked off Nunawading 76-74.
It will be Dandenong’s second championship match in a row after last season’s 63-65 loss to Albury-Wodonga.
