Varsity made a late surge but the Mid City Lions responded.
And it was that response that got the Lions over the line, for a 94-85 win in men’s club basketball on Saturday.
The win continues an impressive season for the Lions, moving to a 6-2 record, slotting in at second on the table halfway through the season.
Even more impressive was that it came without their star backcourt duo of Christopher Christof and Noah McDowell.
It was their front court duo who did the damage.
They constantly fed Callum Chirnside in the post, the centre piling on 30 points from down low, while Toby Kendon showed his all-round prowess with 26 points.
Jack Hollingworth did all he could to keep Varsity in the game, dropping a cool 40 points, and having a few the scoresheet credited to others, too.
It was not enough to edge out the Lions, though, as this vastly improved Varsity team was pipped at the close for the second week in a row.
Chirnside was dominant for the Lions through the first half.
The Varsity defence had little answer for the big man, at times even throwing three men at him, as he poured in 26 first half points.
That helped the Lions build a 26-16 lead, although Varsity had reeled that in to trail just 53-49 at halftime.
The Lions pulled away again in the third quarter, schoolboy star Oak Chisholm (11 points) hitting back-to-back triples to help the Lions out to 70-56.
That margin stayed around 10 until midway through the fourth quarter, when Varsity mounted its surge.
Hollingworth scored 11 of his team’s points in an 18-2 run, as the Lions offence faltered and Varsity drew level at 80-80.
But at that point the Lions went back to Chirnside in the post, who bullied his way to the hoop and finished with a reverse.
Kendon drained a triple soon after to make it 85-80, before adding two more baskets to take the game away from the students.
In other games the Mid City Magic remained atop the table with a 98-75 win over the City Rise Bombers.
Dallas Hartmann led the Magic with 25 points, while Oscar Hickey added 23.
Maika Shortland and Hamish Robertson had 25 and 24 points respectively for the Bombers.
The St Kilda Saints took a 103-63 win over the Andy Bay Falcons, Lawson Morris-Whyte posting 37 points.
