WALLAN’S unbeaten streak to open the 2023 Big V basketball season has extended through a third week, with all grades winning at the weekend.
The Panthers’ division two men made their home debut on Saturday night, withstanding a fierce second-half comeback from the Craigieburn Eagles to win 68-63.
Wallan opened the game with a stifling defensive effort, restricting the Eagles to 10 points in the first quarter and only six in the second term to lead 36-16 at the half.
But in the third quarter the Eagles came out with renewed focus, as some familiar faces began to have an influence.
Former Wallan player Abraham Solano, now playing in Craigieburn colours, scored 11 of his team-high 20 points in the third term as the Eagles narrowed the deficit to 16 at the final break.
Three three-pointers in the span of a minute by Guy Dupuy and Solano early in the fourth quarter brought the margin back to single digits, and a Gene Vocale layup narrowed the gap to 55-51 with only four minutes remaining.
The Panthers looked to their import Arcaim Lallemand down the stretch and the centre delivered, scoring six straight points to restore the margin to 10.
While Craigieburn refused to go away, the combination of Lallemand and forward Tyler Best, who last week committed to playing for Williston State College in the USA at the end of the season, proved too much to handle.
Lallemand finished with game-high figures of 24 points and 15 rebounds, while Best notched 18 points and 10 rebounds.
Tom O’Connor produced another well-rounded outing for the Panthers, finishing with nine points, 10 rebounds and six assists.
The win set up a top-of-the-table clash between Wallan and Whittlesea – the only remaining undefeated teams in the men’s division two competition – at Mill Park Basketball Stadium on Thursday next week.
Wallan’s women will also defend top spot on the ladder after downing Blackburn 74-65 in a road game on Saturday.
After a tight first half the Panthers broke away in the third quarter and held on in the fourth, with import Kylah Collins again leading the way with 23 points, 10 rebounds and four steals.
Sarah Scott added 14 points while Olivia Dalmau recorded 12 points and nine rebounds.
The women’s side will face Coburg in a road game after the Easter break.
Wallan’s youth league division two men capped off another perfect weekend for the association with a 94-80 win at home against the Chelsea Gulls in a curtain-raiser to the men’s match on Saturday.
Led by a 30-point, 16-rebound explosion from James Bonnici, the Panthers steadily built a lead through three quarters and held on in a high-scoring final term.
Dylan Lombardo and Luke Cairns had 17 points apiece in support of Bonnici, while Damon Anderson scored 13 off the bench.
The youth league men will also play Whittlesea on Thursday April 13 in a 6pm curtain-raiser to the men’s 8pm match.