By Colin MacGillivray
WALLAN Panthers’ Big V division two men are looking to enter the Easter break on a high with a big home game against Maccabi this Saturday after knocking off previously undefeated Altona at the weekend.
The Panthers entered their round three clash with the 4-0 Gators as underdogs after losing to Altona at home in round one, but repaid coach Tim Annett’s faith with an important 83-77 road victory on Sunday afternoon.
In a game of wild momentum swings, the Panthers led by nine points at half time only to immediately fall in a hole in the third quarter.
It was American import Arcaim Lallemand, with 16 of his game-high 28 points in the last quarter, who led the charge for the Panthers, but the visitors had no shortage of contributors.
Guard Abraham Solano, 16 points, continued to shoot well from three-point range, while Jackson Wynne and Tyler Best harassed the Gators on the defensive end.
“It was a game of momentum swings, but we were lucky enough to stay on top throughout the fourth quarter and get over the line,” Annett said.
“We’ve definitely stood up in [the defensive] area, keeping teams to lower totals than the rest of the competition. I think that’s something we’re starting to be known for a little bit, and the guys are really buying into what we’re trying to achieve.
“All nine guys contributed, which was really pleasing.”
Annett said the win against the ladder-leading Gators had given his side belief it was a finals contender.
“We’ll go in [against Maccabi] confident being at home and hopefully we can get ahead of the ledger at 3-2 and take a bit of confidence into the Easter break,” he said.
Wallan’s division two women will also take plenty of confidence from the weekend after a tough 67-60 win against Blackburn at home on Sunday.
Led by Sarah Scott’s 17 points and six rebounds, Wallan also benefitted from a strong all-around game from Kaitlyn Wakartschuk, who tallied nine points, four rebounds and nine assists in a near-double-double.
Olivia Dalmau was superb off the bench for the Panthers with 12 points, 10 of which came from her game-high 14 attempts at the free-throw line, as Wallan moved to 1-1.
Wallan face a stern test at 6pm on Saturday with a road game against the ladder-leading RMIT Redbacks.
Wallan’s youth league division two women posted a pair of blowout wins, trouncing Southern Peninsula 89-47 on Saturday before a 96-50 win against Blackburn on Sunday, with Ruby Pantisano recording back-to-back strong scoring performances.
The youth league division two men were not as successful, going down convincingly to Whittlesea 94-127.
The youth league men will be on the road on Saturday to play Keysborough at 6pm, while the youth league women will be at home to play Albury-Wodonga Bandits in a 6pm curtain raiser to the men’s 8pm game against Maccabi.
