The comeback came hard and fast.
But just as quickly as the Andy Bay Falcons had snatched a fourth-quarter lead, the Mid City Magic responded.
And there was no way back after this response.
The Magic ran out a 91-87 victor over the Falcons in men’s club basketball on Saturday, keeping it top of the table with a 10-1 record.
It was a score that perhaps flattered the Falcons slightly.
The Magic held a lead of around 10 points for most of the game, as guard trio Mitchell Hughan (22 points), Dallas Hartmann (20 points) and Joe Ahie (14 points) proved tough to stop.
Yet an early-fourth quarter run from the Falcons brought life to the game.
Sam Senior (20 points) scored through contact, via basket interference, before he and Gabe Gallagher hit triples to pull the Falcons level at 76-76.
Matt Pyper (19 points) hit a free throw to put the Falcons ahead by one,
A time-out sparked Magic to hit back, first through a Brent Cheshire (10 points) transition lay-up, then through two lay-ups to Hughan.
Toby Lewis hit back for the Falcons.
But back-to-back triples from Ahie and Cheshire, followed by another Hughan transition lay-up, effectively put the game out of reach a minute later at 90-79, despite a late Falcons run.
The Magic had controlled the game for the majority of the first three quarters.
An even start left the score at 25-25 at the end of the first quarter, before Hughan, Harmann and Tai Porima-Flavell (14 points) were key in opening a gap in the second.
That gave the Magic a 57-48 halftime lead, which it held for most of the third quarter, before a late run from the Falcons pulled it back to 72-68 at the final break.
The Magic restored a buffer, before the Falcons went on their run to take their only after the first quarter.
In other games, Caleb Smiler led the City Rise Bombers with 23 points to thrash the Magic Lions 111-70.
The Lions, who are heavily depleted with university holidays, remained competitive through most of the first quarter.
However, the Bombers opened a big lead in the second quarter, which they continued to grow throughout the game.
It continued a strong run of from for the Bombers, who are now tracking well with four weeks left in the regular season.
Meanwhile, Lawson Morris-Whyte had 26 points as the St Kilda Saints thrashed Varsity 110-45.
The students were also heavily depleted due to the holidays.
