In the Country Basketball League, CBL, women’s neighbourhood clash, Seymour took a 42-point win over Wallan Panthers on Saturday night.
Stepping on court, the size difference between the teams was obvious and the Blasters used their height advantage during the game – getting several blocks on Wallan’s drives and using the posts inside for mismatch plays.
Seymour’s full-court press put pressure on the Panthers bringing the ball up and forcing turnovers with intercepts, often rewarded with layups down the other end.
At the end of the first quarter, Seymour led the game, 22 points to eight.
Despite trailing, Wallan didn’t give up, with high-pressure defence forcing a shot-clock turnover for Seymour – a consistent theme throughout the game, the Panthers often forcing Seymour into offensive plays until the final seconds.
With Seymour regularly using the middle driving lane off some ball movement, the Panthers tightened up their defence in the key and slowed the driving attacks, forcing longer-range shots that the Blasters hit with less accuracy than their layups.
Seymour’s Ava Townsend was a stand-out player, rebounding at both ends – despite being the shortest on court – and being an asset on the offence, with her impressive ball handling and movement throughout the key enabling strong drives to the basket.
At halftime, Seymour led 45-17 and another strong second half saw the Blasters take the game 92 to 50.
Seymour coach Deb Coulson said it was a good win.
“We were coming back from a loss. We got to play the whole squad, a lot of younger girls as well,” she said.
“Coming back from the loss, we were just focusing on culture, which was the great thing for us.
“We were taking the game on, trying a couple of things, prepping for finals that are coming up in two weeks.”
Seymour’s Carley Cranston was lead-scorer for the game with 21 points, while Kasey Lennox and Townsend had 12 and 11, respectively.
“Carley Cranston really stepped up and had her strongest game so hopefully she keeps that for the rest of the season,” Coulson said.
For Wallan, Paige Schultz, Zali Poorter and Olivia Woods had eight apiece.
In the second last round of the CBL season, Seymour women will host Shepparton on Saturday night before heading to Albury to face the Cougars in a first versus second clash.
Wallan has a double-header at home this weekend, hosting Albury on Saturday night and then Wodonga on Sunday.
