Tara Murray
A little bit of history was made on Saturday night as the Macedon Ranges Rockies women’s side finally got a win on the board in the Country Basketball League.
After not winning a game in their first two seasons, the Rockies needed just one game of this north-west season to get on the board.
The Rockies trailed by four points at half time, the Rockies stepped it up to come away with a 74-61 win against the Maryborough Blazers.
Rockies coach Stacey Stewart, who was coaching her first game, said there was so much excitement from everyone to finally tick off that first win.
“It was the best day ever,” she said. “There were lots of smiles on the faces of everyone.
“One of the girls said to me, that it’s made their week and the week has started.
“They’ve been talking about it for a while.”
Stewart said there was a lot of disbelief among the crowd that they’d finally got the win and she said it was the biggest crowd she’d seen fora women’s match in a long time.
In the game at half time, Stewart said they kept the message simple at half time.
They wanted to be in front heading into the final quarter to give themselves an opportunity late in the game.
Not many would have predicted the Rockies win the third quarter 27-9 to take a four point lead into the final quarter.
Stewart said her side was really about and up and backing each other up which was telling in the final result.
While in front at the final break, the Rockies knew the job was not done.
“We said we’ve got this,” Stewart said. “One of the girls said it was back to 0-0 and we have to keep focused and not get lazy.
“We got tired in the last quarter so we changed up the defence. Some of the young kids, the 15-year-olds, hit the floor and were able to contribute.”
The Rockies leaders led the way.
Cara Beattie top scored with 21 points, while Kiralee Collings scored 15 and Grace Cooper and Adrienne Cameron scored 13 points each.
Stewart said the win gave the group a lot of confidence for the rest of the season.
“I was told that Maryborough is a good side,” she said. “A lot of people will be stunned with the result and realise that playing Macedon this year won’t be an easy match.”
The Rockies now have a big challenge this Saturday hosting the Kyneton Tigers.
Stewart said they were excited to play the local rival and that they had a couple of players to come back into the side.
The Rockies men’s side started the season with a 70-69 loss to the Blazers.
