Wallan Panthers women defeated Blackburn Vikings 67 to 53 in the first Big V division two final on Saturday.
Another solid game from Kylah Collins saw her with a huge double-double of 29 points and 19 rebounds, supported by Olivia Dalmau with 17 points and five steals.
Both teams struggled to score early, but the Vikings led initially before a three-point play by Collins put the Panthers ahead, where they remained comfortably for the rest of the game.
Wallan got on a 10-point scoring run as Blackburn was unable to buy a basket in the first quarter.
Dominating down the offensive end, Wallan took a comfortable lead heading into the second quarter, leading 20 to 11.
The second quarter remained difficult offensively for the Vikings with a shot clock violation in their first play.
Even with second and third offensive efforts Blackburn couldn’t find the basket, with many scoreless transitions leaving the side unable to catch the Panthers who were finishing on most offensive plays.
Collins proved to be a nightmare on the court for Blackburn.
With six minutes to go, Collins grabbed an offensive rebound off her missed layup, drew the foul from Rebecca Cunningham before heading to the line to make two free throws.
Not content with just the foul, Collins forced a turnover from Cunningham finishing with a two-point jump shot down the other end.
Intense play by Wallan forced a Blackburn timeout with the side hoping a change of lineup would be the answer.
The Vikings were finally able to sink some shots, but the Panthers remained in control.
Wallan captain Sarah Scott and Dalmau were a dynamic duo with just under three minutes remaining as Dalmau hit back-to-back three-pointers off assists from Scott.
A two-point jump shot by Melissa Buckley with one second to go sent Wallan into halftime with a 44-28 lead.
Dalmau hit a three-pointer off a steal to kick off the third quarter.
It was proving tough for both sides to score with Blackburn still unable to finish off multiple scoring efforts.
The Panthers weren’t getting many offensive rebounds, meaning it was one-and-done off their score attempts, proving a tough finish to the quarter.
Wallan’s pressure forced turnovers by Blackburn, with steals from Kaitlyn Bickerton and Dalmau finishing with a layup.
Up by 20 points, Wallan was comfortably in front heading into the final quarter.
Drawing a fourth foul early on Blackburn’s key player Isabella Nolen, Collins headed to the line to make both while Nolen headed to the bench in the first 15 seconds of the fourth quarter.
The game continued much like it had in the previous three quarters with Wallan continuously picking the ball off with steals, including two by Bickerton, and finishing down the other end.
Nolen stepped back onto the court with seven and a half minutes left bringing some intensity to the Vikings, securing rebounds and finishing on second efforts.
But Blackburn’s fire was too little too late as Wallan held on to a comfortable 14-point victory.
Wallan will now play at home against Blackburn on Saturday in the second game of the finals series.
