Storm women aim for fourth win

BELLARINE Storm women’s team has started its Big V championship campaign with a bang.

The top-of-the-table Storm have won three on the trot, with victories against Bulleen, Sunbury and Hume City.

Georgia Varley and Chantelle Hall knocked down 26 points each in the team’s most-recent win.

The next assignment is an away clash with Wyndham this Sunday, April 13, at 12pm.

It shapes as an enthralling battle given Bellarine’s preliminary final loss to Wyndham last season.

Meanwhile, the Storm’s American imports have made a strong start to the men’s championship season.

Sitting fifth on three wins and two losses, the Storm face Blackburn away tomorrow (Saturday, April 12), at 8pm in Round 3.

Point guard Malik McKinney, who hit 31 points, and forward Kerry Richardson, who dragged down 19 rebounds and made 13 points, were crucial to the 82-67 Round 2 victory against Melbourne University.

Coach Luke Beauglehall said the imports were gelling well with the group.

“Kerry’s first game against Camberwell opened a few peoples’ eyes about what he is going to bring.

“He shot the ball at a really high percentage and stretched the floor really well.”

Richardson sunk 31 points at 86 per cent from the field in that season opener.

Beauglehall said the Storm were having no trouble scoring and it was their defence that needed addressing in the coming month.

He also gave a shoutout to long-serving Bellarine Peninsula Basketball Association general manager Aaron Lothian, who stepped down last week and will be replaced by Nick Stamatopoulos.

“He was instrumental in getting the Bellarine Storm into the Big V, I want to thank him immensely for the work he has done for the club to get us where we are today,” Beauglehall said.