They were determined not to leave the Federation Centre for the last time this season without a fight.
And that was exactly what the Maitland Mustangs men’s team did, taking the match down to the wire with a defiant 73-70 win.
In what coach Butch Hays rated as their “best defensive game” of the season, the Mustangs denied Manly Warringah in the final quarter to sneak home with only their second victory for the year.
Maitland guard Jono Lawler stepped up when it mattered, shutting down Manly’s top scorers in the dying minutes of the match.
“The defensive effort of Jono Lawler in the fourth quarter was incredible,” Hays said.
“He really lifted his game and just shut them out.
“Luke Boyle also did a great job defensively in the fourth quarter, it was a great team effort.
“Manly had won four games on the trot before this game, so it just shows how close the competition can be and how good we can be.
“We said we weren’t going to leave that stadium without a win or at least a fight.
“It went down to the wire, but it was an entertaining game and the fans were very appreciative.”
Aside from their tight defensive play, a lift in their shooting percentages and rebounding success helped get them over the line.
“We out-rebounded them 50-43, Andrew Mortimer was our top rebounder with 10, Luke Boyle got eight, everyone got some.
“Kenny Artist top-scored on 22 points, he was 10 for 12 from the field and Josh Clifford scored 18 points shooting at 50 per cent.
“He’s really starting to understand the game and his abilities, what he can do.
“It was a real team effort.”
The Mustangs led by two at half time before the Sea Eagles pulled it back to a tied game at the end of the third quarter.
But while fourth quarter lapses have proved fatal in the past, the Mustangs held it together to take the win.
“They were up by two points with six minutes in the game,” Hays said.
“But this time we actually executed our offence, played great team defence, stuck to our game plan and didn’t fall apart.
“Maybe it should be a learning lesson for us. We used terms like ‘playing as though it’s you last game, playing as though there’s no tomorrow’.
“Our intensity levels were very high and we played smart.”