BALLARAT Miners' finals hopes are over in the South East Australian Basketball League.
Despite defeating Dandenong by 14 points on Saturday night, other south conference games did not fall their way.
SEABL confirmed while the south conference top four was not finalised, Ballarat was out of contention.
It was a tough blow for the Miners on the eve of their final home-and-away game at the Minerdome on Sunday.
But they ended on an emphatic note with a 14-point win against Frankston, leading play and showcasing their exciting repertoire of play.
The sixth-placed Miners needed to win their two games this weekend and then rely on Hobart, Albury-Wodonga and Kilsyth losing so that win-loss ratios and head-to-heads fell their way.
This did not happen.
Hobart defeated Mt Gambier, Kilsyth defeated Brisbane and Albury-Wodonga defeated Canberra.
The Miners are finishing the campaign in season-best form.
They have won their past five games, defeating the south conference's top two Knox and Nunawading and now east conference leader Dandenong.
Unfortunately they left their run too late.
BALLARAT Rush typified their season in a double-loss this weekend.
Rush scored just two points in its last quarter against Dandenong on Saturday night as it lost 51-50.
Returning to the Minerdome, Rush failed to fire in a four-point loss to Frankston on Sunday.
They were ruled out of finals contention with losses to Nunawading and Knox last week.