Ballan Brumbies Basketball

W/e Saturday 18 February

Ballan Brumbies basketball action saw the U12 girls, sitting in 2nd on the ladder, take on 3rd place Saints Mystics.

With Ballan still a possibility of finishing the regular season on top of the table, a win here was imperative and coach Heath Cooper had his girls firing from the jump.

Ballan scored the first eight points of the contest, Victoria Taylor responsible for six of those and debutant Kaylee Stancliffe, set up by the improving Emma Karimi, the other two.

The match threatened to blow up midway through the half when diminutive Brumbies guard Grace Monterosso got caught up in an altercation with Saint Emmi Nairn, though the referee quickly had them sort out their differences (somewhat amicably).

Saints eventually got on the board through Ava Vallance – impressive all game – but quick baskets to Millie Grech and Brandi Mulgrew – who literally danced back down the court in celebration – saw Brumbies take a comfortable 12-2 lead into half time.

The second half was a much tighter affair as Saints belatedly found their rhythm. A pair of buckets by Emma Brown and another from Vallance had Saints right back in the contest before Mulgrew and Stancliffe scored to steady the ship for Ballan.

The match started to become a defensive struggle as neither team could find the basket. Taylor eventually broke the scoreless run after rebounding an Esther Seketa miss with Grech quickly adding another two points as Ballan got back in the groove to pull away to a commanding 26-12 win that should secure 2nd place in the ladder, at least, with four rounds to play before finals.

RESULTS
Under 10 Boys
Ballan D 18 lost Drummo Dragons 25
Ballan B 17 lost Celtic Tigers 20
Under 12 Boys
Ballan E 24 def Phoenix Gladiators 11
Ballan C 28 def Saints Wizards 20
Under 12 Girls
Ballan 26 def Saints Mystics 12
Under 14 Boys
Ballan F White 29 def Drummo Dragons 20
Ballan F Blue 20 lost Phoenix Razorbacks 21
Ballan D 32 def Wildcats 19
Ballan C 40 def Sovereign Knights 27
Under 14 Girls
Ballan D 27 def Saints Rangers 14
Ballan B 23 def Wildcats 14
Under 16 Boys
Ballan G White 15 lost Phoenix Rollers 41
Ballan G Blue 8 lost Phoenix Rush 57
Ballan E 29 lost Phoenix Mavericks 30
Under 19 Boys
Ballan H 28 lost Saints Jets 58
Ballan E 49 def Saints Pirates 25
Ballan D 28 def Sovereign Knights 21
Under 19 Girls
Ballan 21 def Phoenix Sky 13