Tara Murray
The Macedon Rockies first Basketball Victoria Country Basketball League women’s season has been a success despite what the scoreboard says.
While the scoreboard will show that the side went through the north-west season without a win, the season was about much more than that.
Coach Tina Duff admitted before the final game of the season that it was challenging at times.
“It’s been up and down,” she said. “There has been good and bad, but I’ve enjoyed it.
“There’s been cancelled games and change of venues amongst it.
“Yes we haven’t won a game but the improvement from them has been really good.”
Duff said the whole playing group has impressed her with how they had adapted to the competition and playing against some more experienced players.
It’s also the first time that Duff has coached in the CBL, meaning it has been a learning curve for her too,
“A few of the young girls, who are 14 and 15, have really developed,” she said.
“At the start they were anxious and nervous to get on the court, now they want to get on and get out there.
“They can’t wait to get out there and they’ve all taken on board everything that Deb [Ogston] and I have said with no hesitation.
“They’ve just taken it on board.”
Duff said the club was really proud of the side as it further develops their representative program.
The Rockies have Victorian Junior Basketball League teams for the first time this season, including one girls team.
Duff said this was only the beginning for the side and program.
“This season has been the first season for this senior group playing together,” she said.
“I don’t think it’ll be exactly the same group next season, but hopefully we have more players wanting to play.
“Hopefully we can get together a team that wants to play together and go out and have some fun.”
The Rockies finished off their season on Sunday, in one of their biggest games of the season.
The Rockies hosted their local rivals, the Kyneton Tigers, for the first time.
Speaking before the game, Duff said this was one match they would really love to win.
It wasn’t the case, with the finals bound Tigers too strong, winning 88-53.
The Tigers set to the tone in the opening quarter, opening up a 25-7 lead at quarter time.
The Rockies managed to stem the flow in the second and third quarters, with the Tigers winning both quarters by two points.
Not for the first time, the Tigers were able to run out the game strongly, winning the final quarter 26-13.
Molly Garrahan top scored with the Rockies with 15 points, while Cara Beattie and Molly Greetham scored eight points each.
For the Tigers, Adele Rogers top scored with 19 points as five players reached double figures.
The win means the Tigers finish the regular season in second spot with seven wins and one loss.
Finals start this week.
