Tara Murray
The Macedon Ranges Rockies go into the second half of the Country Basketball League north-west women’s season full of confidence.
The Rockies had the bye on the weekend ahead of the last three rounds when they will be keen to build on their season so far.
After not winning a game in their first two seasons, the Rockies have won two this season already.
Coach Stacey Stewart said the group was rapt to claim that second win, beating the Bacchus Marsh Lions.
“We were 17 points down,” she said. “It was a different type of game and I tried different combinations.
“They fought really hard and had that grit and determination showed through at the end to do it.
“They all just got around each other and it was amazing to watch.”
Stewart said the group were starting to trust what she was doing and the confidence was growing in the group.
She said for many of the players they weren’t expecting to have the season that they’ve had so far.
“It’s a new group, a new coach,” she said. “They were down after two years and coming into the third season they didn’t know if they wanted to come back.
“They didn’t think we were going to achieve this.”
Stewart said it was exciting for those on the sidelines including assistant coach Tamara Collins, who missed the first win of the season.
She said everyone is buying into what they are doing.
“We’re seeing that growth on the practice court,” she said. “Grace Krstev is one of our training partners.
“She earned her spot on the bench in the last game. She’s always at training and every home game cheering on the girls
“The match development is there and she’s more confident as well.”
With the two wins so far, Stewart said they weren’t content with just that.
“I said on Sunday [after beating Bacchus Marsh] that I want one more and they said so do we,” she said.
“We’ll take each week as it comes as the squad chances week to week.We’ll go out there and give it our best.”
The Rockies men were in action on Sunday against the Castlemaine Cannons.
After trailing by 18 points at half time, the Rockies got back into the game in the second half.
The comeback fell short with the Cannons winning 86-80.
Ethan Fiegert top scored with 25 points for the Rockies.
Kyneton Tigers’ men’s side had a tough weekend.
On Saturday night they lost to the Cannons, 85-50. The Cannons won every quarter.
Lochlan Oellering top scored with 18 points for the Tigers.
On Sunday, the Tigers lost to the Bacchus Marsh Lions, 122-54.
Lunyjock Nien top scored with 16 points.
The Rockies sit in seventh spot and the Tigers are bottom.
The Tigers women beat Bacchus Marsh on Sunday, 68-59. Elsie Noonan top scored with 19 points.
The Tigers sit atop the table.
