Up against the Waratah Youth League division two leaders Shoalhaven Tigers at home on Saturday, the Magic went down 114-51.

While coach Kevin Campbell said a loss was not an unexpected result, given the strength of the Tigers’ team, the final margin did come as a bit of a shock.

It was always going to be a tough match for the home team, with Shoalhaven keen to get back on track following its second loss of the season the week before.

With just six points in it at quarter time, a big home crowd hoped for a close match.

But after Moss Vale conceded several fouls in the first six minutes of the second quarter and missed a few easy shots, the Magic found it hard to get back in the game.

The Tigers dominated the rest of the match and finished the regular season on top of the ladder.

“They work as a unit and cut down decision making time. They play really strong defence...and that’s why they’re favourites to win it,” Campbell said.

“We never stopped trying but we were outclassed on the weekend.”

Campbell thanked the crowd who turned up for Saturday’s match, and said it was the biggest home crowd the magic had had all season.

“It was a great atmosphere to play in front of.”

Carter Reeves topped the scoresheet for the Magic with 13 points, followed by captain Isaac Martin (10 points) and Luke Davenport (nine points).

Moss Vale finished 13th on the ladder in what has proved to be a difficult season for the Highlands side.

Campbell said the team’s year had been disrupted with injuries and suspensions.

“Taking that into account we didn’t do too badly. It would have been nice to make the play-offs, we were probably missing a couple of imports.”

‘It was a satisfactory season.”

Campbell said losses against some of the top teams where the Magic had led in the final quarter and then been beaten also hadn’t helped their cause.

While the Magic will play no further part in the season, there were still plenty of positives to take out of 2018.

Tristan Glenn who Campbell said would be a “player of the future for us”, made his youth league debut and Luke Davenport proved he will be one to watch next year with some standout performances throughout the competition.

Davenport has also been nominated for rookie of the year.

Reeves, who finished as top scorer in the league (495 points), has been nominated for the all star five, along with Zac Ottoson while Martin is in the running for defensive player of the year.