DUBBO'S 2014 Waratah League season ended in disappointing fashion on Saturday night, with the Rams on the end of a 23-point thrashing at the hands of the previously winless Bathurst Goldminers.
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Will Ozolins starred for the hosts, dropping 31 points on his way to a MVP performance that started in the opening seconds when he dropped the opening points courtesy of a long three-pointer.
Dubbo had won the two previous meetings between the two teams at Dubbo but Ozolins' early bucket set the platform for a good start by the Goldminers.
The hosts only scored 14 points in the opening term but restricted the Rams to just nine, however they set the win up with a strong second term as they scored 28 points to take a 42-27 lead into the main break.
All season Dubbo has shown grit in their matches and Saturday was no different.
After a lacklustre first half they found their range in the third term, scoring 28 points and at one stage getting back within four points, however a late Bathurst rally saw them hold a seven-point lead at the final change.
Dubbo's effort to come back told on them in the fourth period, as Bathurst was able to regroup and outscore the Rams 28-12 to finish on the right end of an 86-63 scoreline.
Goldminers captain Matt Chapman couldn't have been happier with the result in a game in which his side executed efficient basketball.
"It was good to get the win for that bit of pride as well as the motivation for next season. We played a totally different style of basketball on Saturday night," he said.
"We played more as a team and were less reliant on our individual skills. I think that shows by the fact that we had five players getting into double figures," he said.
Bart Sykes saved his best game of the season for last as he finished with 16 points for the Rams, while Damien Reid (15), Dan Medway (10) and Brian Amos (10) were also able to get into double figures.
o BATHURST GOLDMINERS 86 (Will Ozolins 31, Nic Cranston 16, Trent Grantham 13, Matt Chapman 12, Tom Ozolins 10, Lawrence Mifsud 4) def DUBBO RAMS 63 (Bart Sykes 16, Damien Reid 15, Dan Medway 10, Brian Amos 10, Tye Forrester 6, Nick Conte 2, Jordan Woolmer 2, Matt Buckley 2)