Round 3 Wrap Up!

3 rounds down of Big V action. Let's wrap up the weekend and review the standout games from each division. Have a read below:

 

CM

Sunbury 92 def. Melbourne University 84

A game that seemed to have it all started in Round 3 for the Championship Men division. This game was a seesawing affair for the entire first half with Melbourne Uni going into the great 1-point up. Sunbury responded after the main break, winning both the third and the fourth quarter as they marched on to a win. For Sunbury, it was all about Ish Sanders, he was dominant with 47 points across the night shooting at an unbelievable 50% from the field and a sharp 83% from the free throw line. Melbourne University had the more balanced offensive approach, led by veteran Nicholas Masunda who contributed 24 points to go with 17 rebounds. These teams are certain to have some more close encounters as the year goes on!

Sunbury		Stats	Melbourne University
Ish Sanders	47	Points	24	Nicholas Masunda
Trevon Clayton	15	Rebounds	17	Nicholas Masunda
Ish Sanders	5	Assists	5	Masunda, Rimes, Pomasan
Ish Sanders	50%	3PT %	60%	Malik Potter

 

CW

McKinnon 78 def. Pakenham 71

It was a game of runs in this blockbuster between McKinnon and Pakenham on Saturday night at Pakenham. It was the Warriors who were able to get the jump early with a pair of Nickerson layups late in the first quarter, McKinnon quickly responded in the second quarter, pouring in 27 points in the period. Some strong play in the third quarter by Prior and Nickerson gave the Warriors the lead going into the final break but Suckling and Gray had other plans, the dynamic duo stepped up in the 4^th to get their Cougars the much-needed win. The additional turnovers to the Warriors proving costly in this one as they continue their run of close losses.

McKinnon		Stats	Pakenham
Emily Suckling	22	Points	19	Haille Nickerson
Morgan Riley	13	Rebounds	11	Sans, Howman
Morgan Riley	4	Assists	6	Haille Nickerson
Morgan Riley	+18	+/-	+10	Keeley Patterson

 

D1M

Warrnambool 76 def. RMIT 69 

On Saturday night, the RMIT Redbacks hosted the travelling Warrnambool Seahawks and got off to an impressive start thanks to some sharp shooting from Daniel Steen. The Seahawks quickly rallied to ensure the Redbacks didn’t sneak away from them with scores going back and forth during the middle two periods. The game was neck and neck until the final 3 minutes when the scoring dried up for RMIT whilst Pollydore and Gynes kept it ticking over for the Seahawks as they ran away with this one by 7 points. RMIT will be disappointed with a measly 21% shooting from the free throw line that proved to be the difference.

Warrnambool		Stats	RMIT
Jamal Pollydore	26	Points	24	Steve Coffey
Oliver Bidmade	17	Rebounds	10	Louse Agon
Oliver Bidmade	5	Assists	6	Matthew Bruno
Benson Steere	4	Steals	5	Matthew Bruno

 

D1W

Craigieburn 62 def. Melbourne University 50

Strong second and fourth quarters got the job done for this Craigieburn team searching for their first win of the 2023 season. Led by star players Carley Cranston and Courtney Strait with 16 and 12 points respectively, the Eagles seem to have control of this one from the start despite the best efforts of experienced Big V stars Maddison O’Nial and Amelia Smith. Melbourne University struggled from the 3-point line all night, hitting only 1 from 14 attempts which only added to their scoring woes, it was this 3-point shooting that proved to be the difference for the Eagles, making 8 from the land of plenty, including 4 from Cranston.

 

Craigieburn		Stats	Melbourne University
Carley Cranston	16	Points	12	Meera Coburn
Courtney Strait	13	Rebounds	8	Coburn, Smith, Newton
Strait, Stewart	3	Assists	2	Smith, Newton, Holman
Alana Ellis	5	Steals	4	Maddison O’Nial

 

D2M

Wallan 68 Def. Craigieburn 63

It’s Wallan again who remain on top of the table in Division Two taking out a close win over Craigieburn, a game which coach Tim Annett would have hoped not been so close. Wallan came out strong through the gates in the first half to go up by 20, the Eagles stuck around and snuck their way back into the game winning the 3^rd and 4^th quarters, just not getting close enough. Looking like a comfortable game at halftime, Wallan up 20 points, and Abraham Solano changed gears and help bring his boys back. Finishing with 20 points with assistance from Guy Dupuy off the bench with 16 the Eagles came close. Arcaim Lallemand was as expected, dominant with 24 points to go with his 15 rebounds, 8 of which were offensive. Tom O’Connor added across the board as well as CBL MVP Tyler best with a handy 18-point 10 rebound double-double.   

Wallan		Stats	Craigieburn
Arcaim Lallemand	24	Points	20	Abraham Solano
Acraim Lallemend	15	Rebounds	9	Blake Dickinson
Tom O’Connor	6	Assists	2	Vocale / Solano / Dickinson
Arcaim Lallemand	8/9	FTs	10/11	Abraham Solano

 

D2W

Wallan 74 Def. Blackburn 65

Wallan are proving to be one of the serious contenders early in the season for Division Two Women as they go into the Easter break 4 – 0 with a win over Blackburn. It was a 40-minute battle between the sides with the Panthers charging out in the 3^rd for a 22 to a 13-point quarter. This proved enough to hold their lead with Blackburn continuing to work and chip away in the 4^th keeping the panthers scoreless in the last 2 minutes. Rebecca Cunningham put up a very respectable 17-point 10 rebound performance for the Vikings. Star Import Kylah Collins continues to dominate the league going for 23 points along with 10 rebounds and 4 steals and 3 blocks. Although it was not the best shooting night from the arc for the Panthers, it was their ability to crash the offensive glass finishing with 19 second-chance points.   

Wallan		Stats	Blackburn
Kylah Collins	23	Points	17	Rebecca Cunningham
Kylah Collins	10	Rebounds	10	Rebecca Cunningham
Scott / Dalmau x2 / Bickerton	2	Assists	2	Quadara / Sukurica
Kylah Collins	3	Blocks	1	Pattison / Quadara

 

VYCM

Eltham 86 Def. Dandenong 81

It was a Terril vs Terril hitout with Dandenong hosting and falling ever so short to the rolling Eltham Wildcats. Dandenong now having dropped 3 games in a row they’re realising this league is a lot more competitive than their round 1 performances. Eltham are struggling to get on a roll this year yet sitting 3^rd isn’t the worst position. Alex Bandilovski took over for the Wildcats closing the game out with 2 made free throws in the dying seconds forcing Dandenong to rush and unfortunately turn the ball over before getting an attempt. Eltham were able to dig deep in the 4^th coming back after a 4-point deficit at 3-quarter time to take the win leading into Easter. 

Eltham		Stats	Dandenong
Alex Bandilovski	24	Points	20	Justin Asi
Zak Cunningham	11	Rebounds	12	Justin Asi
Alex Bandilovski	7	Assists	6	Trent Andre
Harry Stones	4	Steals	7	Nathan Raymond

 

VYCW

Diamond Valley 64 Def. Bendigo 63

One of Big V’s closest games for the weekend over at Diamond Valley. Diamond Valley with a fresh team rolling into the 2023 season with one of their new inclusions Aleisha Cadee going off for 29 points shooting 5 from 10 from the land of plenty causing some issues for Bendigo’s defence. Cadee was simply unstoppable as she was the only player for the Eagles to reach double figures. Caitlin Richardson put together a solid performance with 18 points to go with 4 rebounds and 6 assists. Diamond Valley were fortunate in the last couple of minutes scoring their last points with a little over 3 minutes left in the game. Bendigo made their run, yet it proved a little too late.

Diamond Valley		Stats	Bendigo
Aleisha Cadee	29	Points	18	Caitlin Richardson
Sarah Carr	9	Rebounds	7	Erin Condron
Bianca Keogh	5	Assists	6	Caitlin Richardson
Sarah Carr	6	Blocks	2	Richardson / Condron

 

YL1M

Hume 90 Def. Camberwell 86

It was a powerful performance from both starting 5’s across the board in a high-scoring offensive-generated game with Hume taking out the W handing Camberwell’s first in-season loss since 2021! Camberwell had 4 players tick over double figures, Bergamin coming off the bench with 20 points with Hume’s 4 10+ performances all coming from their starting group. Hume took out the rebound game by 12, 19 of which being offensive leading to 24 second-chance points which seemed to have been the decider. Camberwell were able to generate stops as they forced 20 turnovers yet it was their rebounds and fouls on shot attempts giving Hume 23 opportunities at the line.

Hume		Stats	Camberwell
Elijah-Taye Saifaleupolu	26	Points	20	Hugo Bergamin
Haydon Mcintosh	12	Rebounds	12	Matthew Power
Elijah-Taye Saifaleupolu	3	Assists	5	Earl / Bergamin
Corey Fiddes	3	Steals	5	Jackson Dean

 

YL1W

Wyndham 71 Def. Craigieburn 70

Arguments could be made for one of the most exciting games of the round with Wyndham hosting Craigieburn, a game which came down to the dying seconds. After Emma Stafford stretched the game out to just 2 points making 1 out of her 2 free throws, Jasmine Goodman found herself wide open off a well-executed quick pick and pop action to nail a 3pt giving Wyndham the W. Coming from behind in the last minute after some clutch free throws by Emma Stafford, Wyndham were out of timeouts, leaving the game up to fate, and so have it Goodman snatched the win away from the Eagles. Wyndham were ready to live and die from the arc shooting 13 from 43 for the game, proving that confidence in your shot does pay off, right Jasmine!

Wyndham		Stats	Craigieburn
Jasmine Goodman	22	Points	13	Emma Stafford
Grace Spehar	13	Rebounds	10	Tamsyn Kirk
Eliza Moodie	8	Assists	3	Jasmine Solano
Jasmine Goodman	5	Steals	3	Stafford / Fakalata

 

YL2M

Western Port 105 Def. Mornington 102

What a scoreline we have for the game of the round! A down to the wire game with the free throw game very much in play, Denzel Cupidon from Mornington went for a trick play off his second free throw after making his first to throw the ball off the ring with hopes for it to bounce back with enough time to put up a shot and sent it to OT. Unfortunately, this was not the case as Western Port walked away with the win in an extremely close game. Kurt Alaimo showed out with 24 points to go with his 9 rebounds shooting 2 from 2 from deep. With more lead changes in the first half, Western Port managed to hold their lead late in the game in what was a high-intensity and very much free-throw-dependent game.

Western Port		Stats	Mornington
Kurt Alaimo	24	Points	19	Alex Thompson
Kurt Alaimo	9	Rebounds	7	Noah Tostovrsnik
Justin Stahl	3	Assists	3	Alex Thompson
Kurt Alaimo	10/12	FTs	6/8	Alex Thompson

 

YL2W

Bellarine 62 Def. Albury 50

It’s an early battle for top of the table in Youth Two Women with Bellarine and Albury very much in the mix, Bellarine now with the upper hand over the Bandits in a close game. It was the 2^nd quarter where Bellarine took the lead rolling into the 2^nd half with only a 6-point lead. Managing to stretch it out to 10 by 3 quarter time with only a 7 to 11 quarter. Bellarine stood their group essentially going score for score in the 4^th holding the lead. Withers and Copeland from the Storm controlled the game with 15 and 17 points apiece with Georgie Salinger from the Bandits continuing her great season with 17 points shooting 50% from the field. Maeve Connell had a crazy rebounding game snatching 23 boards for the game yet struggled to be the ball in the ring. Bellarine sits just one spot above the Bandits leading into the Easter break.

Bellarine		Stats	Albury
Piper Copeland	17	Points	17	Georgie Salinger
Ashlea Withers	12	Rebounds	23	Maeve Connell
Haugh / Withers / Field	4	Assists	3	Georgie Salinger
Eliza Haugh	4	Steals	3	Charlie Gibson