IT was a breakthrough weekend for Wallan’s men’s team, while the Panthers’ women have moved up to third position on the ladder.
An exciting Saturday night affair saw Wallan’s men get on the board, with Trent Cousins the hero in their one-point win over Melton.
The Panthers made a productive start, scoring 19 points to 17 in the opening term to take a two-point lead.
Peter Leckie and William Stewart had a very productive second quarter to help keep the momentum Wallan’s way in the second term, enjoying one of their best quarters so far this season to extend the lead to 11 points by half time after a 22-13 quarter, leading 41-30 at the main break.
In the last meeting between the two teams, Melton’s third quarter was a key difference, and it was here where the Thoroughbreds made their move, holding Wallan to just seven points for the term.
Despite trailing 48-50 at the final change, however, the Panthers were still very much in the game.
Falling six points behind early in the final term, the Panthers didn’t panic to hit the front, but the Thoroughbreds had another gear in them to lead by five points with just under two minutes to play.
Cousins went ballistic with the game on the line. First, he scored a big three-pointer to reduce the margin to one point with 19 seconds to go, then he made himself a hero with another three to give the Panthers a memorable one-point win, 73-72.
Stewart scored 21 points, while Cousins finished with 14.
Backing up the following day, however, Wallan were simply no match for Mildura, who roared to a 104-55 victory.
The Panthers were blown away in the opening half to trail 50-16, before keeping pace with the Heat in the second half.
Jon Bailey scored 16 points, while Jayden O’Brien added 11.
Wallan’s women’s team are building nicely, after a dominant first half allowed them to take a 76-51 win over RMIT.
The Panthers shot out of the blocks early in the first term to lead 19-8 and continued to blow by the Redbacks in the second term.
Wallan were relentless defensively in holding RMIT to 17 points for the half as they led 43-17 at the main break.
The Panthers again increased their lead with a 17-13 term to double the Redbacks’ score at the final change, leading 60-30.
RMIT finished strongly in the last term to cut into the margin slightly, but the Panthers would have been thrilled with their big result.
Ranika Guyton had an incredibly efficient game in scoring 23 points, 13 rebounds and five assists, while Emmie Gardiner flirted with a 5×5, scoring 17 points, 22 rebounds, five assists, three steals and three blocks.
In youth league results, Wallan’s men were overrun by RMIT in the final term, letting slip a nine-point lead to fall 72-79.
Brody Thrum scored 19 points, while Luke Cairns added 17.
Wallan’s women similarly were unable to get the win, with Blackburn proving too strong in the second half in taking a 66-48 win over the Panthers.
Kendra Reukers scored 17 points to lead the way, while Tahlia Onley had 13 points and 21 rebounds.
The Panthers’ Big V teams will host Southern Peninsula this week, while their youth league teams will travel to Sherbrooke.
