In the final round before the mid-season break, championship hopefuls Ballan Brumbies U14 Girls B, took to the court against a Celtic Tigers side looking to keep in touch with the top four. <\/p>\n
Celtic were immediately on the back foot as late arriving players meant they had to start with four on the court, not getting a 5th (let alone a reserve) player until a few minutes after the jump ball. <\/p>\n
Ballan took full advantage, opening the contest with a quick 8-0 run as Ruby Sims, Ruby McLeod and Indy Cassar got on the board before Emily Brown was able to break the run with Tigers first points from a strong drive to the basket. <\/p>\n
Ballan’s pronounced athletic advantages were apparent as, perhaps Brown and Ella Braybrook aside, Celtic were neither big nor swift enough to halt the Brumbies from doing just about whatever they wanted on the floor through the first half. <\/p>\n
Albi Pike came off the bench to great effect picking off a pass and racing away for an easy layup. When the Brumbies, not by any means the greatest lineup of shooters, did miss their superior size saw them own the offensive glass.<\/p>\n
A late run from Celtic saw them close the gap at half time to 18-9, though Ballan remained well in control. <\/p>\n
The game degenerated in the 2nd half as Celtic, Brown especially, began to show their frustration. Playing somewhat of a lone hand, Brown tried to use her strength to bustle her way to the basket. Against most sides in the division that tactic would work but Ballan’s size, combined with referee’s that were allowing the game to flow meant that she was repeatedly stonewalled. <\/p>\n
The physicality on show from both sides saw both Ballan and Celtic players come to the bench nursing bumps and bruises as frustrations threatened to boil over at times. <\/p>\n
McLeod was pulling the strings at both ends, seemingly everywhere on defense and deftly controlling the offense. Ballan’s passing was cutting up Celtic’s defense, Addie Jacobs finding Chloe Newton for a jumper and Dakota Mulgrew feeding Sims for a fast break layup after a smart interception.
\nThat said, both teams stepped up the intensity as Ballan found it far tougher to score in the second half.<\/p>\n
As it was, Ballan’s defense was resolute throughout the 2nd stanza, holding Celtic to just a single basket as they ran out comfortable 29-11 winners on the day. <\/p>\n
RESULTS<\/p>\n