23rd July 2026
Author: Maree DeGeorge
44-point all-round performance helps Camberwell keep its finals hopes alive
Melbourne, VICTORIA - With their Championship Men finals hopes on the line, Camberwell delivered one of its biggest wins of the season, knocking off reigning champions and second-placed McKinnon to keep its finals campaign alive.
Leading the charge was Jackson Meshanic, who produced one of the standout individual performances of the Championship Men season. Meshanic filled the stat sheet with 44 points, 14 rebounds, four assists and three steals, while also taking on the challenge of guarding McKinnon's Manassa for much of the afternoon in a dominant two-way display.
With just three rounds remaining in the regular season, the result keeps Camberwell firmly in the hunt for a finals berth.
While his remarkable stat line grabbed plenty of attention, Meshanic was quick to put the focus back on the team's objective.
"Making finals is our goal," Meshanic said.
"We don't want to leave it up to other teams. We want to win the games we need to win and make sure it's in our own hands."
After consecutive losses had placed extra pressure on the Dragons, Meshanic said he simply trusted his game.
"I didn't really feel pressure. I just got into a rhythm early and the shots started falling," he said.
Despite his offensive output, Meshanic credited the Dragon's collective effort as the difference against one of the competition's benchmark teams.
"We shot the ball really well from three, but I thought we were much sharper defensively too," he said.
"We were connected as a five-man unit, especially with our ball-screen coverage, and holding McKinnon to around 80 points gave us every chance to win."
While the 44 points made the headlines, Meshanic was just as proud of the impact he made in every facet of the game. Alongside his scoring, he controlled the glass with 14 rebounds, created opportunities for teammates with four assists, came up with three steals and embraced one of the toughest defensive assignments by making McKinnon's Manassa work for every possession.
For Meshanic, however, the result outweighed any individual achievement.
"I'd rather have an average game and win than put up big numbers in a loss," he said.
"I was happy I could contribute in different ways with rebounding, creating for teammates and on the defensive end, but the win is what matters most."
Head coach Shawn King praised the way his side responded after two difficult weeks, with the victory keeping Camberwell's finals hopes alive.
"It was nice to get a win after a couple of tough weeks, and it means we're still a chance to play finals," King said.
"We played as a team and hit some shots when it mattered. McKinnon made some runs, but it was great that we were able to hold our nerve and get the win."
With the finals race tighter than ever, King knows every game will be crucial over the closing weeks of the season.
"It's a huge win for us. It gives us a chance to make finals, and once you're there, the season resets for everyone," he said.
Camberwell captain Luke Liesegang said the group understood the significance of the contest but remained composed throughout.
"We knew what was at stake, but we tried not to let the pressure get to us," Liesegang said.
"Everyone was focused, ready to compete and determined to do everything we could to come away with the win."
Liesegang said Meshanic's performance reflected both his individual quality and the trust the group has in one another.
"When you've got a player with Jackson's ability, it naturally draws a lot of attention," he said.
"That opens things up for the rest of the group and allows everyone else to do what they do best."
With the finals race entering its final stretch, Liesegang believes Sunday's win has provided renewed confidence for the Dragons.
"We'd had a few tough losses, so this win has given the group renewed belief," he said.
"There's still plenty of work to do, but it keeps us in the hunt and gives us something to build on over the coming weeks."
King believes the Dragons are building at the right time of the season.
"The guys are getting healthy again and they're ready to go," he said.
"Hopefully we can get a couple more wins and get ourselves into finals."
-Ends-
For Media Enquiries:
Maree DeGeorge
Basketball Victoria
Media & Communications Specialist
maree.degeorge@basketballvictoria.com.au
0499 851 266
