IT was a successful weekend of play for the Whittlesea Pacers as they got their season on track with three wins between them.
Whittlesea’s mens team hosted Warrandyte as they looked to square the ledger after last week’s close loss.
In an opening term grind, it was the Venom who took a slight lead going into the first change, scoring 17 points to 15 to lead by two.
However, the Pacers really got their game going in the second term, and the charge was led by Angus Fischer and Raheem Anthony.
Fischer scored eight points for the term, while Anthony scored seven, including five in the final minute of the term to help the Pacers take a nine-point lead at the main break, scoring 33 points for the term to turn the game around, leading 48-39.
The Pacers looked as though they would continue on their momentum in the third term, and after Fischer again scored halfway through the period with a three-pointer, the margin had ballooned out to a game-high 17 points.
The Venom were able to get things slightly under control to stop the bleeding, and cut into the margin a little bit, but at three-quarter-time, it looked like Whittlesea still had things under control as they turned for home with a 72-60 lead.
The last quarter was all the Venom, however.
A 14-5 run to open the term saw the game reduced to a one-possession affair, and with just a minute left, an Angok Angok three-pointer levelled the scores.
Two tense possessions followed by Jason Dirkx was able to draw a foul with just 10 seconds left.
Dirkx sunk both shots from the charity stripe to give the Pacers a two-point lead, which they would eventually hold, despite a late attempt from Bryson Butler to tie the game, with the Pacers hanging on to an 88-86 win for their first of 2025.
Fischer had an economical outing with 22 points and eight rebounds, while Anthony scored 18 points, collected 12 rebounds and dished out five assists.
Whittlesea’s women had a successful weekend of basketball, taking two wins in the first of their double-header weekends.
On Saturday night, the Pacers battled back from a five-point half time deficit to defeat Melbourne University by eight points.
A good start saw the Pacers open up a two-point lead at the first change after scoring 16 points to 14.
However, Melbourne University soon took control of the game and threatened to run away with it in the back end of the second term as they went on a 15-4 run to snatch a 38-33 lead at the main break.
Melbourne Uni then scored the first bucket of the third term to extend their lead to seven points.
Pleasingly for the home supporters, Whittlesea found a way back into the game, and it was their starters who had important moments of their own to make a significant difference.
At the end of the term, incredibly, Whittlesea turned it all around to lead 56-51 at the final change.
The Pacers controlled the pace of play in the final term, scoring 16 points to 13 to ensure they were able to take a 72-64 victory.
In an even team effort, Hayley Sparks scored 12 points and Isabella Ryan 10, while Tegan Cunningham, Olivia Dalmau and Taylah Scott scored eight points each.
The Pacers showed no signs of fatigue on the second day of a back-to-back, putting Camberwell to the sword at Balwyn High School on Sunday.
It was a close game at the opening change, with Whittlesea leading 17-15 at the opening change before the Pacers got rolling in the second term.
Impressively, Whittlesea were able to dominate the paint on the inside, forcing Camberwell to foul consistently and earning opportunities from the free throw line throughout the quarter.
This allowed the Pacers to outscore the Dragons 27-15 in the second term as they opened up a 44-30 lead at the main break.
An 18-4 run after the main break was just what the Pacers needed to ensure they were able to have the game sewn up, and impressively, it was their bench who helped step up and make an impact.
On both ends of the floor, the Pacers were just too good as they led 66-38 at the final break.
Another big term of scoring saw the Pacers blow the margin out in the final term as they scored another 27 points, finishing the game with a flurry to win 93-52.
Meg Lucas came off the bench to have a significant impact, scoring 20 points and collecting nine rebounds, while Sparks scored 17 points, Cunningham 11 and Indiana Bodley likewise scored 11.
It was a tougher weekend for the Pacers’ Youth League teams.
The men lost by 11 points to Wallan, 68-79 as the Panthers proved too strong in the second half. Joshua Pratt scored 16 points in a losing cause.
The women had a tougher time against Camberwell, scoring 45 points as they were unable to stop the Dragons from recording a 30-point victory. Amy Temos scored 12 points to lead the way, while Zoe Wynd and Shanai Hale scored eight points each.
Whittlesea’s Big V men hosts Coburg on Sunday afternoon, while the women will host Mildura. In Youth League, Whittlesea’s men’s and women’s teams will both travel to play Albury Wodonga.
