The Pirates broke the deadlock in the final quarter at Echuca Basketball Stadium on Saturday to pick up the win 80-69.
There was almost nothing between the three teams over the first three quarters, the Pirates and Cougars not separated by more than five points at any point in the first half.
After trailing by a couple of baskets in the first few minutes, Echuca restored parity and a Joey Mizzi three at the end of the period had the locals up a point at quarter-time.
The second was similarly tight and neither side could find the basket with consistency, the Pirates retaining their one-point advantage into the half.
Echuca was out of the blocks quickly after the break and made five straight baskets to lead by double-digits for the first time.
Albury ground their way back into it from the foul line over the final minute, and cut the lead to two.
Isaac Jones and Mitchell Sutton took over the game in the fourth, each making three baskets within the first four minutes to restore the double-digit advantage.
This time the Cougars were unable to respond, and the Pirates held on to win by 11.
Keoni Anderson finished with 17 to lead the Echuca side, while Sutton (13), Oscar Jones (13), Joey Mizzi (11) and Isaac Jones (10) each hit double figures.
A week earlier, Isaac Jones dropped 30 as the Pirates almost got the best of the Shepparton Gators.
A thrilling finish saw the Pirates tie the game at 74 in the final seconds, but the Gators’ Spencer Wright beat the buzzer from deep to give his side the win, 77-74.
The two results see Echuca conclude its season in sixth place with a 3-7 record.
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