It was an incredibly tight match-up between the Miners who were looking to cement their spot on top of the league ladder and the Braves who were looking for a big win to push them towards a finals appearance.

The game started out with both teams on fire shooting the ball. Both sides traded the lead before the Ballarat ultimately took a 28-25 lead into the first break.

The Braves hit back in the second quarter, thanks in part to a huge first half from big-man Ray Turner, who's 20-points led all scorers to end the first half.

Turner recieved some scoring help from teammate Mathiang Muo, who finished the game with 24 points, including a multitude of tough shots over the likes of Ballarat defenders Kuany Kuany and Deng Acuoth.

The Miners saw it's scoring come from a multitude of areas, with six players finishing the contest in double-figures.

American imports Marqueze Coleman and Jerry Evans Jr led the way for Ballarat, scoring 22 and 19 points respectively against their former University of Nevada teammate Deonte Burton, who played all 40 minutes for the Braves.

Both Coleman and Evans Jr stepped up for the Miners on the defensive end to close the contest, as Evans Jr blocked a three-point attempt that would have given Bendigo the lead with 50 seconds remaining before Coleman shut down Burton's game-winning attempt in the final seconds.

After two free-throws to seal the game, the Miners left Bendigo as 88-84 winners ahead of their Sunday evening game against the Albury Wodonga Bandits.

The Ballarat Rush have lost their round 11 game of the NBL1 women's season on the road against the Bendigo Lady Braves.

It was back and forth across the first quarter of action, with neither team able to create much separation.

Some sweet shooting and nice ball movement helped the Rush take a 26-25 lead into the first break, but from then on the Lady Braves' skill shone through.

Bendigo cut the Rush apart with their passing and stifled them with their tight defence, outscoring Ballarat 25-13 in the second quarter.

The Rush were able to keep themselves in the game for much of the second half, however couldn't reduce the deficit to anything less than eight-points.

Joy Burke had one of her best games of the season for Ballarat, using her size and nice touch around the rim to register 17 points and 11 rebounds.

The Rush struggled to find consistent contributions elsewhere on the court, with Laura Taylor the only other Ballarat player to score in double figures thanks in part to some sweet shooting from behind the arc.

Ultimately Bendigo were just too good for the Rush, holding on the win 81-71.

The Rush will have to recover quickly from the loss ahead of their Sunday home-game against the Albury Wodonga Bandits.

DETAILS

FINAL SCORE

BALLARAT MINERS - 28, 21, 21, 18 (88)

BENDIGO BRAVES - 25, 25, 19, 15 (84)

SCORERS: Miners - Coleman 22, Evans Jr 19 (2 three-pointers), Kuany 14 (1), Short 11 (3), Fox 10, Acuoth 10, Lingard 2. Braves - Turner 28, Muo 24 (4), Burton 16 (1), Andronicos 8, Hogan 3 (1), Hansen 3 (1), Bartlett 2.

STATS

REBOUNDS - Miners 39, Braves 39

ASSISTS - Miners 16, Braves 22

STEALS - Miners 9, Braves 9

BLOCKS - Miners 3, Braves 1

TURNOVERS - Miners 14, Braves 15

FOULS - Miners 19, Braves 23

FINAL SCORE

BALLARAT RUSH - 26, 13, 18, 14 (71)

BENDIGO LADY BRAVES - 25, 25, 19, 12 (81)

SCORERS: Rush - Burke 17, Taylor 11 (3 three-pointers), Hackmann 9 (1), Constable 9 (1), Cochrane 7, Jenkins 6, Amoore 5 (1), Blower 4, Collins 3 (1). Lady Braves - K. Wilson 20 (1), Tobin 18, Richards 13, Lavey 12 (2), Madgen 9 (1), A. Wilson 7, Dufelmeier 2.

STATS

REBOUNDS - Rush 42, Lady Braves 42

ASSISTS - Rush 24, Lady Braves 23

STEALS - Rush 6, Lady Braves 11

BLOCKS - Rush 2, Lady Braves 2

TURNOVERS - Rush 18, Lady Braves 9

FOULS - Rush 13, Lady Braves 11

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