In a match where both teams traded momentum and scoring runs, Horsham won 74-73.

Playing at home, the Hornets had a six-point lead with 20 seconds remaining.

While that lead would have been safe in most games, the Hornets survived by the barest of margins.

Warrnambool's Eliza Killey sank a long three-pointer to cut the margin to three with 18 seconds remaining.

Horsham tried to keep possession and run out the clock but turned the ball over, giving Warrnambool a chance to tie. Killey hit again with eight seconds remaining, but was inside the three-point line when she took the shot.

The basket cut Horsham's lead to one point, but this time the Hornets were able to protect the ball and escape with a narrow victory.

Ema Iredell was one of the star performers for Horsham.

In the absence of talls Annie Brack and Caitlin Story, Iredell was forced to punch above her weight.

She did extremely well and finished with a team and equal game-high 19 points.

Faith McKenzie was another who was forced to play out of position, but used her speed against bigger opponents to net 14 points.

Ally Hiscock helped carry the team in the final quarter, posting 12 of her 14 points in the term and burying two three-pointers to build Horsham's lead.

Hornets assistant coach Gareth Hiscock took the reigns in the absence of coach Sharon Fedke.

He said the performance was extremely encouraging against a strong Warrnambool side.

"Their playing coach, Katie O'Keefe, has played 104 WNBL games and I'm led to believe she was in the Australian mix at some stage," he said.

"She's probably the best credentialed player this league has ever had.

"Warrnambool is on a mission to get back into the Big V competition, so they've had a few Big V players drop back into CBL to raise the profile of their CBL list.

"They are stronger than any team we came up against last year, so it was a good indication of how much our list has improved."

Hiscock said the team still had plenty of scope for improvement, with McKenzie, Aily McAuliffe and sisters Georgia and Ally Hiscock all aged 15 or under.

He said eliminating turnovers would be a focus for the Hornets in their next game.

Horsham's men had a much easier time in their Sunday match against the Warrnambool Seahawks.

The Seahawks scored the first four points of the game but after that it was all Hornets.

Horsham finished the first term with a flourish as Tim Pickert and Mick O'Callaghan sunk three-pointers to open up an 18-8 lead.

The Hornets won each quarter en route to an 88-55 win.

Pickert finished with a game-high 24 points, but Horsham spread the scoring load for the second straight game.

Coach Mark Dorward scored 18 points and was joined in double figures by Jordyn Burke and Matt Lovel.

The win saw Horsham claim the outright lead on the south-west conference ladder, ahead of last season's grand final conqueror Mt Gambier.

It was a less memorable weekend for Stawell Wildcats' men, who lost 72-55 to the Terang Tornadoes.

Stawell was competitive in the early moments and trailed by only one point at quarter-time, but was soundly beaten in the second and third quarters.

Joel Freeland was a bright spot for the Wildcats, scoring 22 points.

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