SCHOOL SPORT VICTORIA - LODDON MALLEE REGION

Basketball - Intermediate Girls

One pool, five teams, and a spot at the State Finals for the team at the top of the ladder meant this was a round of matches that everyone wanted to win. Our Year 9 and Year 10 Girls were excited and eager to compete, having advanced easily through the Sandhurst Division round.

Game 1 saw the girls take on St Joseph’s College Echuca. With several fouls called in the first two minutes, the girls were off to a rough start and down by 7 points. After taking a moment to compose themselves, the girls rallied and started to settle into their groove, turning around to be up by 5 points at halftime. 

The forwards of Molly Beasley and Rylee Marsh were pressing hard, while the tall players, Lexie Fennell, Rylie Jones and Sophie McDermott, were keeping Echuca out of their scoring range. Despite an early yip, a solid 3-pointer from Mia Cox announced her return to the team after injury. Rhylee Pollock collected rebounds like trading cards, and Poppy Gladman came off the bench and into the points. Solid teamwork saw the team eventually control the match to be runaway winners, 46-17.

Game 2 was against Irymple Secondary College and was another close start with teams trading points early on. Keen to maintain the momentum from the previous game, the girls kept the pressure on at the defensive end. Some missed shots and rebounds went begging, but again, a pause to settle and recompose saw the team kick away quickly. Beasley found her range from 3, McDermott followed suit, and Fennell flexed under the ring. Rotations through the bench had everyone getting some court time and smiles all around. Every player stepped up to contribute again, and the team took another convincing win, 59-23.

Game 3, against St Mary MacKillop College, Swan Hill, turned out to be the toughest contest of the day. The team started slowly and were finding it hard to penetrate the defence. At the other end, MacKillop were finding cuts and quick passes and chipping ahead on the scoreboard. After some good discussion and communication, the girls made some changes and found a way to slow down the running game and transition to scoring opportunities at our end. Beasley and Fennell dialled up the press while Jones and Cox took intercepts through the midcourt. 

Going into halftime, the girls had chased back the deficit to be down by one point, 18-19. The second half saw our girls return to the court on a mission. If the intensity to chase back was high, the desire to get in front was higher again. Dropping 3s, scrapping on loose balls and taking steals all contributed to a dominant half, and another win, 43-30.

Maryborough Education Centre was the final opponent for the day, and the girls were quick to impress the gathering of parents that had come to watch. Flying ahead on the scoreboard, the girls eagerly attempted alternate passes and shots, with a lot of time spent shooting on the arc. Marsh was busy taking rebounds off the tall players, while Pollock and Gladman got on the drive. Having blown out to a significant lead and holding full control of the game, and with the encouragement of the opposition, the girls tried and tried but couldn’t quite master the off-the-glass alley-oop. The encouragement went both ways, with the CMCB team supporting the MEC girls to go long range for 3 and finished the game with plenty of laughter. Final score 61-32.

A massive thank you to the parents who came and supported the team, Lilly Teuma for her work on the scorer’s bench all day and to Mrs Pearce for driving, fanning and encouraging the team throughout the day.

Mr Colin Hogan (Coach), Poppy Gladstone, Rhylee Pollock, Sophie McDermott, Rhylie Jones, Lilly Teuma, Rylee Marsh, Mia Cox, Molly Beasley, Lexie Fennell