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Wallan Panthers maul Maccabi in Big V basketball

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By Colin MacGillivray

WALLAN Panthers’ men’s team entered round four of the Big V division two competition aiming to build momentum leading into the Easter break. Consider that goal achieved.

Wallan dominated from start to finish on its home court on Saturday night en route to a 99-63 win against Maccabi.

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Arcaim Lallemand’s game-high 27 points – including a pair of thunderous fast-break dunks and strong, physical play in the post – made for the most immediately eye-catching performance, but the depth and teamwork of the Panthers was on full display.

The team finished with an incredible 32 assists on 38 made field goals in an exhibition of passing and ball movement.

Jackson Wynne, Tyler Best and Abraham Solano finished with seven assists each, while Solano continued his hot shooting by connecting on five of 10 three-point attempts on his way to 17 points.

A pair of baskets to veteran forward Gary Saunders in the second half meant each Panther got their name on the score sheet, and coach Tim Annett emphasised it had been a team performance.

“I’m pretty impressed with how we’re coming together. To have 32 assists for the game shows we’re moving the ball well,” he said.

“As a team a lot of the stats reflect that we’re working hard for each other and wanting our team mates to succeed, which is something we talked about over the pre-season.

“Hopefully going forward that is going to make us a tough team to beat.”

With a home double-header against nearby associations Craigeburn and Whittlesea after the Easter break, Annett said his side had an opportunity to make a push up the ladder.

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Wallan’s youth league division two women will also take momentum into the break after overcoming a spirited Albury-Wodonga on Saturday night.

The Bandits were short-handed with only seven available players, but took the fight up to Wallan before a third-quarter surge put the Panthers in front for good in the 62-48 win.

Ruby Pantisano was a standout for Wallan, harassing Albury-Wodonga’s ball handlers and pushing hard on the fast break to finish with 22 points and three steals.

Abby Dalmau was also impressive on the defensive end despite an off shooting night, notching four steals, three blocks and 11 rebounds, while her sister Olivia just missed a triple-double with 15 points, 13 rebounds and nine assists.

Coach Ben Whyte said he was pleased to win, but the team needed to rectify some rebounding lapses and turnovers.

“It wasn’t a great performance, but credit to the girls, we were able to fight back in the second half and show what we expect to see week in, week out with our pressure and intensity,” he said.

“It’s good to get the win and move to 5-1 and sit second on the ladder leading into Easter. We’ve got a couple of big games coming up after Easter, so it’s good to get wins that we expect to get.

“Against some of these tougher oppositions we really need to turn up for 40 minutes.”

Wallan’s division two women also celebrated a win on Saturday night, downing RMIT in a physical game on the road.

Led by Kaitlyn Wakartschuk, 18 points, and Jacinta Scott, 11, the Panthers were on the right end of the ledger in a game that featured several momentum swings.

The youth league division two men were the sole Wallan team to record a loss, going down 69-133 against the red-hot Keysborough Cougars.

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