SEYMOUR’S senior men’s and women’s basketball teams made a successful return to the court in round five of Country Basketball League, CBL, north-east division action at the weekend.
The Blasters, reigning premiers in both competitions, had not appeared in any games since flooding swept through the town in mid-October.
Seymour’s women returned in style with a nail-biting 67-65 road win against the Wodonga Lady Wolves on Saturday, coming from five points down at three-quarter time to snatch victory.
Tayha Watkins was the architect of the win, scoring a game-high 27 points and earning repeated trips to the free-throw line.
Jasmine Hunter played a strong support role with 11 points, hitting one of only two three-pointers for Seymour in the game.
Sienna Sapiano finished the game with eight points, while Georgia Knight had six.
For Wodonga, Rachel Jeffrey led the way with 21 points and Stacey Browne had 19.
Seymour’s men had an easier time, trouncing Wodonga 80-39 in the second half of the double-header at Wodonga Sports and Leisure Centre.
The Blasters came out hot and stayed that way, with Jack Murphy’s four three-pointers contributing to a game-high tally of 26.
Centre Tom O’Connor, 16 points, and forward Keenan Gorski, 10, also notched double figures, with all but two Blasters getting their names on the score sheet.
Brock Thompson, 11 points, was Wodonga’s sole double-digit scorer.
Wallan Panthers’ women were also in action at the weekend, easily dispatching the Shepparton Lady Gators 72-47 in a Sunday afternoon game at RB Robson Stadium.
Carley Cranston led a balanced scoring attack with 20 points, while Kaitlyn Bickerton, 11, Nicola Stewart and Ruby Pantisano, 10 each, contributed strongly.
It was Wallan’s first win of the young season, with the Panthers’ women set to host Seymour on November 13 after a bye this weekend.
The Blasters will return to Seymour Sports and Aquatic Centre this Saturday in round six, with the women hosting Myrtleford Saints at 6pm and the men taking on Myrtleford at 8pm in a double header.
The Blasters’ men will also travel to Mansfield for a Sunday afternoon game at 2pm, after Wallan’s men host Mansfield at RB Robson Stadium at 6pm on Saturday night.
