DANDENONG Rangers' third loss in four games against South Eastern Australian Basketball League ladder leader on Saturday night has all but ended their finals chances.
The Rangers trailed by seven points at half-time, but it was the Bendigo Braves' 25-points-to-12 third term that broke the game open and the Braves went on to to win, 90-76.
Bendigo's Luke Meyer was the destroyer with 26 points and Ivan McFarlin also dominated with 21 points and 17 rebounds.
Brent Hobba was Dandenong's best with 18 points and Luke Fitzgerald (13 points) and Jon Shepherd (13) battled hard against more skilled opponents.
It was a similar story for the Dandenong women's side. It lost top spot on the ladder after losing to fifth-placed Bendigo 79-66.
With scores locked at 36-36 at the long break, the visiting Braves powered ahead with a 22-10 third period. Gabby Richards finished with 20 points for the Braves. For the Rangers, Amelia Todhunter was the standout with 24 points.
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