By JARROD POTTER
IT TOOK a lot to finally silence the Thunder, but the Cavaliers emerged victorious in a 101-94 overtime thriller at Keilor.
Taken past regulation time, the Cavaliers had to toil to get the job done – after losing forward/centres Matt Witherden (10 points, 10 rebounds) and Ash Szalek (9 points) to fouls.
Keilor roared back into the game in the fourth term, erasing a 19-point three-quarter-time deficit to almost steal the match, but Casey held on to force the match to additional time, before steam-rolling the home side to take the seven-point win.
Matt Pebole deserves as much applause as can be mustered – the guard dragged the Cavaliers kicking and screaming to victory with an impressive 38-point, 13 rebound match.
Dean Johnson also showed why he’s the captain with 19 rebounds and eight points to keep the Cavaliers from getting overwhelmed by the encroaching Thunder.
Bevan Camilleri (18 points, 6 rebounds) had one of his better nights of the season as he slotted in for his first 30-minute performance this season.
The Cavaliers men have two games in hand atop the Big V Division 2 ladder and an extra win over Shepparton in second place – all but guaranteeing the Cavaliers a final’s spot.
Casey host Oakleigh on Saturday night from 8pm.
The equation is murky for Cavaliers’ women – two wins are the only certainly, while results need to fall their way for Chelsea or Coburg to drop out of the race.
The problem is exacerbated for the Cavaliers’ women with their direct competition for the final spot in the Big V playoffs both playing low-ranked teams in the last round as well.
Casey starts its final run towards qualification this weekend against Chelsea on Saturday at 6pm at Patterson River Stadium.
In the battle for first spot in the Youth Men, Casey was knocked off by Keysborough as the Cougars claimed a 70-51 win over the Cavaliers. Sean Mckinnon (15 points, 12 rebounds) and Ryan Sinclair (12 points, 5 rebounds) were best on the scoresheet.
