Wallan Panthers’ Division Two Women have made it to the end of the Big V competition, and will play against Melbourne University in a grand final this weekend at the Jungle.
The big showdown is the team’s second grand final appearance in two years, and will be a first for their Coach Jarrod Bridge, who was over the moon after the side defeated Surf Coast two weeks ago in a very close away match, 73-66.
In an intense game, the side followed its tradition to play a better second half.
When it was time to take it up a notch in the last quarter, with the score showing a four-point lead from Surf Coast, Wallan stepped forward in all aspects of basketball, making all the right choices for the side to go directly to the finals, instead of another opportunity match.
With a bit of defensive action and teamwork, the girls locked in a grand final for Wallan.
“Our second halves are always generally better, we get more comfortable,” Bridge said.
“In the fourth quarter … we put more pressure on [Surf Coast] to make tougher shots, we stopped giving up the easier baskets, and Kylah [Collins] did her thing, she’s tough to stop.
“A big thing for us was Olivia Dalmau, she stepped up massively as our leader, she took over when we needed her to, she got everything controlled, [and] made the right play calls. When things didn’t go like we wanted, the ball was in her hands, and she made the right choice.”
Looking forward to this weekend, Bridge said he was proud of the side that had been through it all this season.
“I’m excited because the prospect of winning a championship is pretty awesome. Obviously, a little bit nervous, it will be the first time for me, a first time for quite a lot of the team, and there’s a few last year that came runners up,” he said.
“Honestly, I’m just mainly proud of the girls. Obviously being a mixed division, we had ups and downs, and the girls just really kind of pulled together, and put us in this position.
“It’s my first chance of coaching senior basketball, and they’ve made it so much fun, and obviously the results are making it even more fun, but just them as a group, have made it so much fun [too].”
The finals game against Melbourne University will be at RB Robson Stadium, 7pm on Saturday night.
