The GMHBA Miners cleared the Nunawading hurdle by 16 points at the MARS Minerdome on Saturday night. This was an emphatic statement from the Miners, who had to beat the Spectres by four points for a head-to-head advantage in the South East Australian Basketball League’s east conference.

There is still one round to play. The Miners travel next week to play Kilsyth, which is working to stay in the south’s finals race. But the Spectres have clear competition powerhouse Mount Gambier ahead.

The Miners are playing with an impressive determination. Their game is fierce.

This was how they made light work of Basketball Australia’s talent academy last week before pulling off a win on the road against the highly fancied Dandenong to back it up. This was how they won a true clutch game against the Spectres – especially when the Spectres slashed the Miners’ 20 point lead early in the third quarter, back to one point by three-quarter-time.

Miners coach Eric Hayes said it all came back to his players supporting and trusting each other.

“They continue playing together,” Hayes said. “...When (the Spectres) made their run, we settled and started playing well. That was the most significant thing. When you’re down like that and a team makes a big run at you, it is easy to pack it in and fracture. The guys stayed together and started making smart plays."

The Miners pulled away late in the first quarter when playmaker Roy Booker nailed three shots from beyond the arc, including one incredible shot on the quarter-time buzzer that had the crowd roaring, his teammates pumped and the stadium vibe electric.

The Spectres contained Booker in the second but Anthony Fisher seized charge in a 10-point second quarter. Booker ran into foul trouble in the third quarter, picking up three quickly in the term, and the Spectres made their move. The Miners regrouped. 

Booker was fouled off with almost four minutes to play and immediately started vocally coaching and cheering his teammates from the bench.Hayes said it was a great example of players wanting the best from each other. Dyson King-Hawea proved hard for the Spectres to match, a little too big for their small guys and too agile for their bigs. Liam Gibcus was unwaveringly tough. Fisher pulled in 11 rebounds and knocked down key shots. Gregg Thondique claimed 15 rebounds, pulling off the unlikely. Kris Blicavs worked relentlessly.

They will carry this play into one last hurdle to finals.​

MINERS 28 51 68 92

NUNAWADING 17 37 67 76

POINTS – Miners: Booker 23 (5 three-pointers), A Fisher 20 (4), Thondique 20, King-Hawea 12, Blicavs 9 (2), Gibcus 8. Nunawaing: O’Hea 20 (6), Ballinger 19 (1), McDonald 14 (1), Vanrenen 8, Conn 8, Hogan 5, Steel 2.

REBOUNDS – Miners 48 (Thondique 15, A Fisher 11, Gibcus 8, King-Hawea 6), Nunwading 33 (Ballinger 11)

ASSISTS – Miners 17 (Booker 8), Nunawading 17 (McDonald 10)

STEALS – Miners 3, Nunawading 1

BLOCKS – Miners 0, Nunawading 4

TURNOVERS – Miners 10, Nunawading 11

FOULS – Miners 15, Nunawading 16

SHOOTING – field goals, Miners 34/83 (41%), Nunawading 29/72 (40.3%); three-pointers, Miners 11/34 (32.4%), Nunawading 8/30 (26.7%); free throws, Miners 13/18 (72.2%), Nunawading 10/12 (83.3%).