By JARROD POTTER
WINNING rough is not what a coach would ideally want, but Casey Cavaliers were able to scrap out a 67-66 nail-biter over Western Port to maintain top spot.
With scores level at the final change, it came down to another gutsy effort from the Cavaliers’ premier scorers Matt Pebole (19 points, 9 rebounds) and Matt Witherden (11 points, 8 rebounds) to get Casey across the line for its sixth win in a row.
Michael Batley (2 points) was forced to take another high-profile defensive job as he manned Manny Hendrix (22 points, 8 rebounds) after the Steelers’ guard cut lose before half-time.
The Cavaliers face Keilor on Sunday away for a chance to cement its top-billing in Big V Division 2.
Ladder leading Western Port downed the wayward Cavaliers women 50-45.
Casey had all of the play in the final term – holding Western Port to only eight points in a stellar defensively effort – but butchered its own shooting as it could only manage seven-of-19 from the field.
Turnovers cost the Cavaliers heavily – giving away 26 to the Steelers and only reclaiming 10 on defence. Lara Pauline (8 points, 8 rebounds) was best on the stat-sheet for Casey. The task ahead is difficult for the Cavaliers’ women to make finals, having played two more games than Coburg, Mornington and Melbourne University above them. The Cavaliers women have a bye this weekend before clashing with Chelsea in their second last game of the regular season.
Casey Youth Men were downed 71-78 by Corio Bay as Sean Mckinnon (25 points, 10 rebounds) had another monster game.
