MITCHELL Shire’s Country Basketball League teams found success across the board in round eight at the weekend, with Seymour’s men and women and Wallan’s men all victorious.
Seymour hosted a home double-header at Seymour Sports and Aquatic Centre, with its women downing the Wangaratta Warriors 89-51 and the men posting an even bigger win, 109-56.
A hot start from the Blasters in the women’s game had the home side in the box seat from quarter time, leading 25-11.
Although Wangaratta showed signs of life with a competitive second term, the Blasters’ smothering defense took its toll in the second half, allowing the Blasters to run away with the win.
Tayha Watkins was a dominant presence with 37 points, draining an equal-team-high three three-pointers, 12 two-point field goals and four free-throws.
While Watkins was the star of the show offensively, she had solid support from Jasmine Hunter, 12 points, Maddison Ford, 11, Olivia Pearce and Kasey Lennox, nine apiece.
Sisters Jorja and Taylah Reidy scored 34 of the visitors’ 51 points but their teammates were unable to offer enough support to make the game competitive.
Seymour’s men got off to an equally hot start in the following game, leading Wangaratta 26-9 after one quarter.
Keenan Gorski, recently named the Melbourne Basketball League 2022 Rookie of the Year, put in another team-leading performance with 22 points.
The Blasters were on fire from long range, with Gorski and Abraham Solano each netting four three-pointers and Jack Murphy making three as part of a team total of 14.
Wangaratta, by contrast, only managed one triple all game.
In addition to Gorski’s 22 and Solano’s 16, Murphy and Tyler Best scored 15 points each, while Tom O’Connor finished with 10.
Wallan’s road game against Mansfield was a closer affair, but a huge second half gave the Panthers the momentum they needed to complete a come-from-behind 76-63 win.
The Panthers trailed by five points at half time, with the likes of Jesse King and Cam Anderson leading the Eagles.
But Wallan’s resolve on both ends of the court showed in the second half, with the visitors outscoring Mansfield 45-27 after the long break.
Dion Stacey, Luke Liesegang and Jayden O’Brien formed a handy trio with 17, 15 and 14 points respectively, while Riley Mclay, 10, and Leigh Dean, nine, were strong in support.
Seymour tops the men’s north-east division ladder with a perfect 5-0 record, with Wallan sititng fourth at 3-2 behind Benalla and Albury.
The Panthers will travel to play Myrtleford at 6pm on Saturday before returning home to host Wangaratta at RB Robson Stadium at 3pm on Sunday.
Wallan’s women will play curtain-raisers to both men’s games at 4pm Saturday and 1pm Sunday respectively.
Seymour has byes in both competitions.
