Written by Greg Jeffers
WOMEN'S CHAMPIONSHIP DIVISON:
Warrnambool (81) def Bulleen (62)
It has been said before that it is tough to win in the ‘Bool and that proved to be the case for the Boomers, as Warrnambool defended the home court and kept their playoffs hopes alive! Warrnambool put in a consistent performance, gradually building their lead through most of the night. Bulleen were met by a three headed monster in the form of Crichton, Nielacna and Pineau scoring 69 points and 31 rebounds between them, in one of the most dominant trilogy performances in 2024! Warrnambool generally shoot 10% better from 3 point distance when playing on their home floor, but 64% from long range is extraordinary! Nielacna and Pineau went 8/8 between them! Sometimes things just aren’t meant to be, and it was one of those nights for Bulleen. Despite Romas (20 points) and Allan (15 points) leading the way, the Boomers couldn’t manage to come away with a win from the ‘Bool as the Mermaids were at their best.
Wyndham (120) def Hume City (50)
The Wyndham machine rolled on in what can only be classed as a dominant performance. Wyndham set the tone with 35 points in the opening quarter and then proceeded to share around the stats in all categories. Likewise for Hume City, with the game out of reach Megan Ormiston (23 points) held the reins as the Broncos looked to provide a strong rotation of minutes across their team; potentially with an eye to the game the next day against McKinnon.
Sherbrooke (89) def Pakenham (71)
Sherbrooke’s charge up the ladder and toward the playoffs continued, as they collected win number 5 in a row, away at Pakenham. With 4 games to play, some outside the Suns camp might say, they have one foot into finals! Not having lost since June 1, Sherbrooke are heading into the final couple of rounds with their tails up, having defeated a lot of the contenders. Pakenham have a deep squad and Coach Rob Dielemans provides plenty of opportunity to them, best demonstrated by 11 of his 12 players getting themselves on the scoreboard. However, it is Nickerson and Whatman of whom they rely as the key playmakers to create and score. Whilst the Warriors weren’t as reliable at the 3pt line as they normally are shooting 22% (typically 2nd in the league @ 31.5%), they were able to keep scoring consistently, but it is the newfound offensive spark that Sherbrooke have, that Pakenham just couldn’t contain. That spark in the past has been Alicia Carline, but this resurgence in winter led by Coach Scott Gunther has seen others raise their games and, on this occasion, it was Miranda Gartner who put in a match winning performance. Gartner had a night out with a huge 33 points, but let’s not forget about Carline, she finished with 13 points, but also 23 rebounds and 5 blocks to control things at the defensive end. Pakenham to their credit were outstanding in the second half, winning both the third and fourth quarters, including putting a significant scare into the Suns, as they went on a 13-0 run in the third quarter. But Sherbrooke had done enough in the second quarter (32-15) and were never led from that period onwards, coming away with a comfortable victory.
Hume City (86) def McKinnon (76)
In their second home game of the weekend, the Broncos shook off the performance from the night before and went hard at a determined Cougars outfit. The prize for the winner - they’d be just about safe from relegation zone. McKinnon late in the first quarter had jumped to a 10 point lead and there were warning signs for the Broncos, but they were able to claw it back to just 3 points by the first break. Whilst the lead stayed in single digits until very late in the match, it was McKinnon that led through from the 3 minute mark of the game until early in the fourth quarter. The stats reflect a tight contest with both teams shooting the ball significantly higher than normal, but the ongoing influence of Hume’s Ormiston became more telling as the game went on. Securing 7 offensive rebounds herself (18 as a team), that was one glaring difference throughout the game with the Broncos ending up with 22 second chance points, compared to McKinnon, just 6. Hume City put on the defensive screws in the backend of the 3rd quarter and through the 4th as the Cougars scored just 16 points in the final 15 minutes of gameplay compared to the Broncos 28. Emily Maltezos continued her consistent form for McKinnon with 17 points, 5 steals and 5 assists, but it was Emily Suckling who had a standout game for McKinnon with 24 points including an outstanding 7/14 from the 3pt line. It wasn’t enough to stop barnstorming finish by Hume City led by Megan Ormiston with 31 points and 10 boards, plus Sam Labros who recorded 20 points and an impactful Tash Overby with 8 points along with 14 rebounds.
Sherbrooke (94) def Camberwell (38)
The Sherbrooke train is gathering steam toward the August finals, as they took their winning streak to 6 in the most convincing of performances. The first half was relentless from Sherbrooke as they put 51 points on the board in the first half and there was no coming back from there for the Dragons. A spirited performance from the Camberwell team especially their players off the bench in the final quarter saw them almost win the final quarter. However, it was the Alicia Carline show, collecting one of the biggest stat combos we have seen across Big V in 2024, she finished with 34 points and 32 rebounds!
Bellarine (83) def Warrnambool (68)
Bellarine headed down the Great Ocean Road to play the Mermaids in their second home game of the weekend. Bellarine hit the lead midway through the first quarter and in the sign of a team with big ambitions in their eyes they were never headed in a clinical display. It wasn’t all negative for Warrnambool however, with Matilda Sewell almost securing a double-double with 8 points and 9 rebounds and Maelys Pineau finishing a good individual weekend with 18 points, 5 assists and 4 steals. They’re a stingy team though the Storm of Bellarine, sitting only second to Bulleen for points per game against (64.5ppg) and again limiting a typically strong offensive Warrnambool team on their home floor to just 68, makes the offensive responsibilities just that little bit easier! But it must be that ‘scoring by committee’ mentality that Bellarine have gradually developed through the season that must be worrying their opposition. 6 players are averaging 9ppg or more, led of course by the ever-reliable Bridgette Rettstatt with 17.4ppg across the season, scoring another 24 points in this game. The Mermaids have been good though this season since being promoted to Championship and are well in what appears to be a 3 way battle for the 5th and final playoff spot.
Pakenham (83) def Sunbury (73)
Will we look back at this game at season’s end as a reason for a team did or didn’t make the finals? Head-to-Head matters and with these two in a squeeze with Warrnambool for the finals, this result could be telling. The first half demonstrated how much the game meant top both teams, just 7 points being the biggest lead during that time, Sunbury taking a single point lead to the main break. But it was a gradual pull away in the third quarter by Pakenham that set them up. We’ve spoken of the depth and rotations employed by Pakenham and how it comes home to roost from time to time and that appears to have been a positive impact in the third quarter. Scoring from Sans and O’Loughlin gave the Warriors the jump they need, complimenting stars Whatman, Mackenzie and Nickerson, as the Warriors built a 14-0 run at one point to set the game up. The Jets weren’t done with though! With two minutes remaining in the game, Sunbury had hit the lead with Mirkovic and Conn leading charge. The experienced head of Briahna Whatman came up clutch – scoring 6 points in the final minute, including 4/4 from the Free Throw line to lead Pakenham to an important 5 point win.
