The Pirates put on a show at Echuca Basketball Stadium, blitzing Bacchus in the second and third quarters to come away with a comfortable 16-point win.
Despite a tight opening quarter, Echuca, led by Liam Tenace, was too slick from close-range throughout the contest, winning the second term 25-12 before landing the decisive blow in the third 21-9.
The Lions mounted a fourth-quarter resurgence, but it was too little, too late as Echuca managed to keep the visitors at arm’s length for the 79-63 victory.
Tenace was lethal from two-point range, with his game-high 26 points all coming from inside the paint.
Luke Rosendale was on target from the arc with four three-point conversions to his name among his 16 points, while Staci Richardson (10) and Shaun Atkins (10) also continued their fine form.
The win moves Echuca up into second spot, with a Sunday match-up against Maryborough set to determine who climbs to the top of the standings.
The Pirates women could not emulate their Echuca counterparts in their return to play despite a game-high 25 points from Georgie Eishold.
Echuca started brightly in the first quarter against Bacchus Marsh, but a resurgent Lions won the next two to take a 58-54 lead into the final stanza.
The Pirates could not keep up against a fast-finishing Bacchus, posting just 10 points to the Lions 20 to fall to a 14-point defeat.
Zara Pearson (13 points) and Charlotte Long (10 points) supported Eishold in the scoring.
The ledger stands at four wins, four losses for the fifth-place Pirates, and they will likely need a win against Mildura in their final home-and-away game in round eight to secure a finals spot.
Echuca men and women have a round-seven bye.
Round six
Round six
Echuca (men) 79 def Bacchus Marsh 63
Leading scorers: Liam Tenace 26, Luke Rosendale 16
Echuca (women) 64 lt Bacchus Marsh 78
Leading scorers: Georgie Eishold 25, Zara Pearson 13
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