Round 10 saw some of the middle table teams continue to knock on the door for the top four. Sunbury continue their winning streak, Sherbrooke upsetting the Mermaids, whilst the Broncos, Cougars and Dragons battle it out to stay up.
Let’s talk about the round that was.
Sherbrooke (65) def Warrnambool (62)
Tipping off Round 10 saw Warrnambool hosting Sherbrooke. The Suns had a great start to the match, 16-13 up at quarter time. The Mermaids chipped away in the second taking the lead with under a minute left by the hands of Nielacna off a tough finish through the good wall up by Kingston. The Suns took control of the third swiftly as Warrnambool jumped into a zone. Sooalo made the most of some late rotations drilling a go ahead 3pt to put the Suns back up early in the quarter. The Suns dominated the points from bench, 17-6. Sun’s Gartner had a great game, scoring top with 14 points and 4 assists. Sherbrooke’s Carline and Sooalo finished with 13 points each. Sun’s Crichton, the top scorer for the Mermaids with 26 points.
Bellarine (87) def Pakenham (76)
In a thrilling encounter, the Bellarine Storm defeated the Warriors by 11 points in overtime. With both teams even for most of the first half, the Storm had a strong third quarter, 23-18. The Warriors went on a 9-point run in the last quarter, before the Storm went on an 8-2 run of their own. Briahna Whatman down the stretch splashed a 3 cutting the lead to just 2pt forcing the storm to call a timeout. Off an ATO, the storm let the ball slip out of their hands giving Pakenham 1 more chance to tie or take the lead. A deep heave from way beyond quarter court, Letts was fouled, putting her to the line making just 2 of the 3 free throws putting the game to OT. Bellarine made quick work of OT scoring the first 8 points, making it just too hard for Pakenham to get back into it. The Storm dominated the rebounds, 71-42. Storm’s Strait and Varley finished as the team’s top scorers, both with 15 points each. Alisha Knights, 14 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals and 1 block. Haille Nickerson had a brilliant game for the Warriors, 20 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists.
Sunbury (85) def Camberwell (62)
Sunbury, winning 5 of their last 6 games, took home yet another win against Camberwell on Saturday night. It was all the Jets the first three quarters, 30-13 first quarter that set up the match. The Jets shot 52% from the field, having a 13-5 scoring run, the highest in the game. Camberwell continues to show glimpses of fight each week going on a 12-point run in the 4th forcing Sunbury to call a timeout. It was by the hands of Mirkovic, Hildebrand and Conn who set the tone early allowing for the Jets to cruise in the second half giving opportunities to their bench later in the game. Chloe Hildebrand had an excellent game with 18 points, 5 steals, 4 assists, 3 rebounds. Valos, the top scorer for the Dragons, with 16 points, 5 steals, 3 rebounds and 1 assist.
Wyndham (101) def Bulleen (64)
It was all Wyndham from the first quarter as they set themselves up victory off a 18-4 run in the first quarter. From a 26-7 lead in the first, Wyndham continued their momentum in the second, taking a 26-point lead at half time. For anyone keeping a close eye on the division, this was not the performance you’d normally see by the Boomers. 2 finals contention teams, Wyndham really showed why they are on top this year, forcing 23 turnovers, shooting the ball 37 more times, drilling 3s at a clip of 54% and playing the right way with 22 assists for the game. Wyndham’s star player Paschal top scored for Wyndham with 31 points, 9 rebounds and 9 assists. Julie Brosseau, 24 points, 2 rebounds and 2 steals. Boomer’s Zugna and Kiera Lindemands top scored off the bench, 13 and 10 points respectively.
Pakenham (77) def McKinnon (61)
The Warriors bounced back on the winners list in their second game of the weekend, defeating the Cougars by 16 points. It was after the 5-minute mark of the first before the Cougars got on the board by the hands of Davis. Whilst the Cougars won the third quarter 18-13, the Warriors made an 8-2 run in the last quarter to secure the victory, winning the last, 23-13. Stretching the lead to 19 points halfway through the 2nd, McKinnon showed heart, chipping away to get it back to 9 by the half. A quick timeout by coach Dielemans in the 3rd gave the Warriors the kick they needed to only just hold onto the lead. 11 of Mackenzies’s 19 came from the 4th giving her Warriors the push they needed to get over the line. Breanna Mackenzie top scored for Warriors, 19 points, 3 rebounds and 2 steals. Bree Whatman, 16 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal. Ebony Sans had a great impact off the bench, 10 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists and 1 block.
Warrnambool (77) def Hume City (71)
In a thrilling encounter, the Mermaids bounced back on the winners list in their second game of the weekend, defeating the Broncos by 6 points. Off a 21-15 first quarter by the Mermaids, the Mermaids took a seven-point lead at the main break, off a 11-6 run in the second quarter. Hume’s timeout late in the 3rd coming off a quick 7pt run by Warrnambool could have been a chance for the Broncos to turn the game around yet they continued to struggle as Warrnambool's pressure forced a 24 second shot clock violation immediately. A late charge by the Broncos put them right back in the game yet it was a little too late as time ran out on them after a long trip down the coast. The Mermaids dominated points in the paint, 48-24, 19-8 points from turnovers. Julia Nielacna top scored for the Mermaids, 20 points, 13 rebounds, 5 assists and 2 steals. Crichton, 19 points, 11 rebounds and 2 steals. Maelys Pineau, 16 points, 5 rebounds, 1 assist and 1 steal. Tegan Hindle had a great game, top scoring for the Broncos, 18 points, 8 steals, 3 rebounds and 3 assists.
