Tara Murray
Things are starting to fall into place for the Sunbury Jets in the Big V women’s state championship season.
After a slow start on a number of fronts, the Jets have started to turn their season around in the last few weeks.
On Saturday night, the Jets produced one of their best performances of the season to beat the Warrnambool Mermaids, 102-78.
Jets coach Monique Caparello said the playing group really stood strong.
“I’m pretty happy,” she said. “It was a fantastic game by the girls and they executed what I wanted them to do.
“We showed that we can be up there with the contenders. We had five players in double figures, that was fantastic.”
The Jets got a big boost heading into the match with import Anissa Pounds being cleared to join the squad.
They had hoped to have her the week before, but there were visa issues.
Caparello said now having both their imports had given them a boost on both ends of the court and lifted the whole playing group to another level.
“It’s credit to the other girls who have held strong in offence, the imports are the icing on the cake.”
On Saturday night, the Jets faced a daunting task against the Mermaids.
Caparello said they were up to it.
“We took a bus up there,” she said. “No parents or supporters came with us.
“Just the team and the coaching staff on the bus. Warrnambool can be a rowdy place, but our bench atmosphere was at a fantastic level all night.
“We jumped out to an early lead and were able to sustain that.”
Chloe Hildebrand scored 30 points for the Jets, while Veronika Mirkovic scored 28 points as she played all 40 minutes.
The win was the Jets fourth of the season.
Caparello is hoping that they can continue to build in the next part of the season.
“I think against Pakenham and Sherbooke was the turning point of our season, but we were disappointing last week.
“We learned heaps last week. Hopefully we can solidify that against McKinnon and Hume at home.
“It’s our first home games in five weeks and everyone is super excited to play in front of the home crowd.”
While in the men’s state championship, the Jets lost their fourth straight game by five points or less.
On Saturday night, the Jets faced the Western Port Steelers.
After a slow start the Jets reduced the margin to one point heading into the final quarter. Neither team could be split in the last, with the Steelers winning 86-85.
The Jets never had the lead in the last quarter.
Joshua Yorke-Frazer top scored with 18 points.
The Jets now sit eighth with four wins for the season.
The Jets this week face the McKinnon Cougars on Saturday night.
