Wallan Panthers’ women’s team is starting to find their groove in the Country Basketball League north-east division.
After a slow start to their debut season, the Panthers have now won successive games.
On Sunday, the Panthers put together their most complete performance of the year as they defeated Wangaratta 83-33.
Panthers coach Warren Taylor said despite outscoring their opposition by 50 points, it was defence that was the key to the win.
“It was easily our best game we played, especially as a team,” he said.
“The girls are finally starting to understand what we are running as a team and understanding each other’s games.
“We had just 13 turnovers for the game compare to about 35 turnovers in our last game we played against Swan Hill.
“We shot the ball at 48 per cent from the field really helps. That last stat is thanks to the really great defence the girls played for about 38 of the 40 minutes.”
Taylor said everything just seemed to fall their way on the day.
“Wangaratta are no bunnies,” he said.
“They started the season 3-0 and have a star in the making, 18-year-old Carly Perso. Our bigs, especially Tracy Tuesley and Emma Renton kept her to just nine points.
“The result was just a smashing. Whatever we did it seemed to work but we also stuck to the game plan.”
Alex Darby top scored with 18 points, while Jayda Hunter was outstanding shooting 16 points to go with six rebounds, four steals and three assists.
Gemma Jackson and Sarah Huxtable were also big contributors.
The men’s side had a mixed weekend as they split their two games.
The Panthers dropped their Saturday night game against Seymour 75-63.
The size and experience of the Blasters proved to be the difference between the two sides. The Panthers stayed in touch with the Blasters until midway through the last quarter.
Daniel Stavrinou and Luke Leiselgang scored 13 and 12 points respectively. Both were dangerous from beyond the three-point arc.
On Sunday, the men’s side got its first win of the season, defeating Wangaratta 86-56.
The Panthers flew out of the blocks in the first quarter, leading 29-8 at the first break.
From there the Panthers controlled the rest of the game running out easy winners.
Kane Molloy top scored with 25 points, while live wire Jaak Ponsford was at his athletic best finishing with 20 and pulling down several rebounds.
Both the women’s and men’s team play Castlemaine and Maryborough this weekend.
