By Tara Murray
Kyneton Tigers’ two performances at the weekend couldn’t have been more different in the final round of the Country Basketball League north east women’s competition.
The Tigers put in a strong showing on Saturday night against the Swan Hill Lady Flyers, before backing it up with a flat performance against the Maryborough Blaze on Sunday.
Tigers coach Chris Tighe said it was very much a Jekyll and Hyde performance.
“We had a tough game on Saturday night and we played really well,” he said.
“Michelle Fletcher was great.
“Then today [Sunday] we played like traffic cones and they drove straight around us.
“It wasn’t a good game at all.”
Tighe said he thought Saturday night’s game against the Lady Flyers had left them flat.
The Tigers won 65-54.
“We had some players play some big minutes to get that win.”
The Tigers had to back up without Fletcher who was unavailable.
Fellow big Rebecca Van Kuyk also missed the game after hurting her knee in the win against the Lady Flyers.
Tighe said Van Kuyk would be right for finals starting this week, they just didn’t want to take any risks.
Without those two, the Tigers lost to the Blaze 61-46.
Jess Mangan was the only Tigers player to reach double figures, finishing with 10 points.
Tighe said that the Blaze couldn’t miss their shots, which made it a frustrating day.
Despite the final round loss, the Tigers will still play finals as they finished fourth, but they have lost the home court advantage.
They will travel to play the Myrtleford Saints on Saturday night.
In their one previous game this season, the Tigers won by six points.
Tighe said he was pleased the Tigers had made finals for a second straight season as the program is only in its second year.
“Last year the girls did a great job and made finals,” he said.
“We’re looking to take at least another one or two steps further and that has been our goal all season.
“The girls have embraced that. We’ve had some adversity and that’s become our mantra to just keep playing through it.”
In the north-west men’s competition, the Tigers finished their season on the back of a double header.
Already out of finals contention, the Tigers were playing for pride.
On Saturday night they defeated the Flyers 89-70 with Carson Mcsweeney top scoring for the Tigers with 24 points.
On Sunday, the Tigers lost a close one to Maryborough Blazers, 79-71. Matt Quinn top scored for the Tigers with 18.
The Tigers finish the season in sixth spot.
