WALLAN Panthers’ Big V division two women shrugged off a two-point loss to Surf Coast in round six to come roaring back with a 43-point demolition of RMIT at the weekend.
The Panthers started strongly and only improved as the match progressed, restricting the Redbacks to only 13 second-half points in the 80-37 victory.
Import Kylah Collins showed why she was named the division’s player of the month for both March and April, controlling all facets of the game to finish with 32 points, 15 rebounds, three assists and four steals in 34 minutes of playing time.
Nearly every Wallan player scored in the game, with Amber Ross chiming in with 13 points and nine rebounds and Sarah Scott burying two three-pointers.
Kaitlyn Bickerton scored eight points off the bench to lead the Wallan reserves, while Olivia Connors’ seven rebounds contributed to a staggering 81-44 rebounding edge for the home side.
While the victory boosted Wallan’s percentage, the team will face a sterner test this weekend when it visits Gippsland Regional Indoor Sports Centre for a showdown with the ladder-leading Gippsland United.
United is yet to lose this season, but a Wallan victory could see the Panthers take top spot on the ladder depending on percentage.
The Panthers’ division two men will have a week off after a hard-fought 88-92 loss to Altona on Saturday night.
While Wallan was unable to pull off a fourth-quarter comeback after trailing the Gators by eight points at the final break, the Panthers trimmed the margin to three points with less than three minutes remaining and two points with 37 second left.
Only some clutch shot-making from big man Tyson Burton, who scored five of his 14 points in the final two minutes, was enough to stave off the Panthers.
Wallan received an encouraging performance from forward Keenan Gorski, who started for the first time this season as he recovers from a knee injury.
Gorski scored a team-high 25 points, grabbed eight rebounds and blocked three shots, while guard Dom Bruno showed excellent outside shooting touch with five three-pointers, finishing with 21 points and seven assists.
The difference in the contest was bench scoring, with Altona’s reserves contributing a combined 33 points while Wallan’s bench was unable to score.
Wallan’s men will return to action with a round nine away game against Maccabi on May 21.
The Panthers’ youth league division two men showed fight late in the game but were unable to overcome a large deficit in a 78-93 loss to Pakenham on Sunday.
An efficient 17 points from James Bonnici was a highlight for the team, while Sebastian Villegas, Luke Cairns and Dylan Lombardo each scored in double figures, but the Panthers were unable to stymie the red-hot Pakenham offence – led by Deakin Pereira’s 23 points – until the final quarter.
The youth league team will play Bellarine in front of a home crowd at RB Robson Stadium at 6pm on Saturday before playing an away game against Sunbury on Sunday.
