By Tara Murray
It was goal after goal for Sunbury Lions’ Rebecca Hicks in the Ballarat Netball League on Saturday as she broke through the 100 goal barrier.
After shooting 94 goals in a game earlier this season, Hicks shot an incredible 104 from 113 attempts on Saturday in the Lions 108-29 win against Melton.
Hicks said it was a pretty crazy result and something she didn’t set out to do heading into the match on Saturday.
“It is crazy to get 104 goals,” she said.
“Its unreal and I’m so shocked. Going into the third quarter we thought maybe I would hit 100 and heading into the last quarter we went for it.”
Hicks said the side went into the game with a couple of key focuses they wanted to work on in their game.
She said ball speed was a big one of them.
Even when the 100 goal target became a possibility, it didn’t change.
“We stuck to the game plan as well, which was quick ball movement and we kept that focus,” Hicks said.
“The aim was to get the ball in as quickly as possible.
“Simmy [Simona Di Filippo], Crofty [Sarah Croft] and Tara [O’Grady] were really helpful in getting the job done.”
A big crowd started to huddle around the court as the milestone came closer, with some of the footballers and other grades of netball watching the action,
The bench was counting down the goals as she approached the 100 mark.
“It was a big thing for the club,” she said. “I would not be in a position without them.
“It’s a big credit to them. [Coach] Kim [Bailey] was a bit teary when I hit 100. It was nice to reach that achievement and see a lot of them enjoy it.”
Bailey said on the Lions social media that they thought it might not only be a league record, but also a state record.
Hicks said that was insane.
“It’s obviously a huge achievement to score 100 goals in any competition or game,” she said.
“To score 104 hasn’t been done before and it was all in another day at the off.”
Hicks is now up to 480 goals for the season at a shooting accuracy of 92.49 per cent.
Making the feat more remarkable on Saturday Hicks was playing her second game for the day.
She had played for Woodend-Hesket in the Riddell District Netball League.
Hicks shot 27 goals from 32 attempts as the Hawks accounted for Macedon.
“I didn’t play well in the Woodend game,” she said. “I warmed up by three quarter time and I got to Sunbury and was ready to go.
“I was able to try some different things in that game.”
While she’s had some big individual rewards this season, Hicks is now focused on bigger success.
“I want to win that premiership, that is the goal,” she said. “We want the championship at the end of the season.”
