WALLAN’S season got underway in the Big V Division Two competition across the weekend.
The Panthers’ men’s team travelled to Melton as they looked for a positive start to the season, and the early stages looked good.
A 25–21 first quarter gave the Panthers the early ascendancy, and it looked as though things were tracking in the right direction when they extended their lead to eight points early in the second term.
However, the Thoroughbreds got themselves into the game, getting the crucial stops they needed to ensure they were able to get on a run, and went on a 17–5 scoring spree to end the half leading by four points.
New import Jon Bailey did his utmost to keep the Panthers in the game, scoring nine of Wallan’s 16 points in the third term, but it wasn’t proving to be enough as Melton simply had all the answers, extending their lead to 13 by the final term, with a 67–54 advantage.
The Panthers kept on asking questions throughout the final term, but Melton proved to be too good and extended their margin to 16 by the final buzzer, taking a 96–78 victory.
Bailey collected a double-double on debut with 22 points and 10 rebounds, while Sichen Feng, William Stewart, and Jayden O’Brien each scored nine points.
In the women’s competition, Wallan were shellshocked by a second-half surge from Keysborough at RB Robson Stadium.
The Panthers were able to open up competitively and were well in the frame at the end of the first quarter, with the Cougars leading 25–20.
Wallan’s second quarter was their best, as they started to drain three-pointers to impact the scoreboard and led by as much as seven points with three minutes left in the term.
But a good ending to the half from the Cougars was the impetus they needed to go on with it, snatching a three-point lead to end the half, 41–38.
From there, it was all Keysborough.
The Cougars dominated the third term to put on 29 points to 16, with their outside shooting ensuring they had too much firepower, and making it a 70–54 game with one quarter to play.
The final term also belonged to Keysborough as they restricted Wallan to just 10 points, while scoring 17 themselves to open their season with an 87–64 victory.
Despite the defeat, new import Ranika Guyton performed strongly with 25 points, to go along with five rebounds, while Emmie Gardiner had a big double-double with 15 points and 19 boards.
In Youth League, it was a much more positive weekend for the Panthers, as their men’s team controlled the majority of the game in defeating Sherbrooke 86–82.
The Panthers led for the majority of the game, and it was Rhylee Leighton’s economical 28 points on 12 of 19 shooting which helped set them up.
Brody Thrum added 15 points, as did Kaleb Graham off the bench.
A tricky weekend for the Panthers women saw them lose both of their games.
On Saturday night, the Panthers went down by 26 points against Warrandyte, 53–79.
The Panthers couldn’t get their shots to fall, making just 18 field goals from 55 attempts.
Tahlia Onley was the only Panther to score in double figures with 11 points.
The following afternoon, the Panthers went down in a heartbreaker to Chelsea, losing by just one point, 53–54.
The Panthers had late chances to hit the front but couldn’t quite do so as they were left to lament a late three-pointer from Chelsea’s Alana Tullberg.
Chloe McAullay scored 15 points to lead the way for the Panthers.
The Panthers will host a double-header on Saturday night at RB Robson Stadium, with the women taking on Coburg and the men taking on Collingwood. In Youth League the following day, Wallan’s women travels to Surfcoast and the men host Whittlesea.
