Wallan Panthers’ Division Two Women are still in the Big V competition, and are now setting up for the last game against RMIT this Saturday before finals rounds begin.
The Panthers walked away with a close win at the weekend, facing Southern Peninsula in round 18.
First quarter was off to an incredible start, securing 22 points. However, the direction of the game changed when Southern Peninsula made a two-point layup at the end of the second quarter, concluding with 34-33.
The score was not a huge leap, only one point, but Wallan needed to push through in the next few quarters for a game changer.
Chances of taking over looked good in the first minutes of the third quarter, with Kylah Collins giving back-to-back two-point layups, putting the side two points ahead, but Southern Peninsula protected its lead and ended the quarter with a five-point advantage.
Now or never in the last quarter, Wallan needed its game face on, which the side did put on to achieve a 59-68 win.
Coach Jarrod Bridge said the side controlled the game in the last few quarters.
“Olivia Dalmau and Kylah Collins had dominant games and really controlled the flow for the majority of the game,” he said.
“We worked hard in the second half to keep control and once we got a grip, we were able to run the game our way.”
On the ladder, Wallan is second under Surf Coast, which will compete against each other for a grand final slot, but a loss gets a second chance the week after.
Wallan will host RMIT this weekend in round 19 before the game against Surf Coast.
Men
That’s a wrap for Wallan Panthers’ Division Two Men in the Big V competition, concluding the season in round 18 against Sherbrooke on Saturday afternoon.
After an intense game against Maccabi in round 17, where the side made a comeback in the last quarter, Wallan only had seven players on court on Saturday, but a few missing players did not restrict the side, exiting the competition with a full four-quarter performance.
The Panthers did not disappoint, leading 95 per cent of the game, but the afternoon saw foul trouble from the side.
Some unfortunate calls on Wallan’s Arcaim Lallemand who fouled out put Sherbrooke in the lead within the last few minutes, ending the match, and season for the side, with a total score of 76-68.
Coach Travis Heal said the team had fought right to the end.
“We were the better team for the night. We had four players missing so only seven players available, but again we were missing our big guy due to foul trouble,” he said.
“This allowed them [Sherbrooke] to get many offensive rebounds which lead to extra shots, and that was the difference at the end of the game.”
The Big V competition started off unsteady for Wallan, but the men progressed towards the end, playing incredibly well together, and could only shape the competition as a good result for the side.
Some major highlights included round five of the competition when the men produced a triple-digit game against Collingwood, followed by its second highest scoring game against the same side with 97 points in round 15.
Heal acknowledged the building efforts from the side, who gave it their all towards the end.
“Personally, I couldn’t have been prouder of the team who improved so much for the season. It’s a shame the season has to end right now because we are hitting our straps. That’s a wrap,” he said.
