BALLARAT MINERS 26 43 65 85

Top scores - Dandenong: Montreal 39 points, Lewis 24. Ballarat: Horton 27, Fisher 20.

BALLARAT Miners bowed out fighting in Dandenong on Saturday night.

So close, the GMHBA Miners finished seven points short in a South East Australian Basketball League semi-final.

It was the Miners' first SEABL finals appearance since 2006.

Dandenong imports Daequon Montreal (39 points) and Tony Lewis (24, 21 rebounds) took charge from the outset.

Miners star Ken Horton was back in his strong form with 27 points, 12 rebounds.

Defensively it was tough and both teams, at times, strained under the pressure.

The Rangers seized momentum with buzzer beaters each time in the first three quarters for an edge leading into the break.

It has been an impressive season for the Miners, who called in American Dyricus Edwards with 11 games to play - the minimum to qualify for finals - to replace injured playmaker Roy Booker.

The Miners collected a string of SEABL player of the week awards.

Horton and Booker both earned player of the month accolades and Flint claimed a coach of the month title.

Anthony Fisher (Perth Wildcats) and Nathan Sobey (Cairns Taipans) each join NBL rosters.