Wallan Panthers had two different results in their Big V matchups across the weekend in round 10.
The Panthers had a huge breakthrough in the women’s competition, inflicting ladder-leader Keysborough’s first loss of the season to close the gap to just two games between the two teams on top.
Wallan made a positive start to the game at Rowville Secondary College on Saturday night and were well in the contest with the Cougars at the opening change, despite sitting three points behind after scoring 18 points to 21.
There were danger signs for the Panthers early in the second quarter when the Cougars opened up a nine-point lead, but pleasingly for Wallan, it had a response.
It was Emmie Gardiner and Ranika Guyton who stood up as they have all season long to draw the Panthers level late in the term, before two late free throws meant the Cougars still held a two-point lead at the main break, 35-33.
Again, the Cougars looked to break the game open in the third term, going on a six-point run to open the term and extend the lead to eight.
But in a familiar theme, the Panthers certainly had plenty of fight in them and hit the front late in the term, before a couple of late buckets meant the Cougars still held a 48-46 lead as both teams turned for home.
Impressively for Wallan, its bench provided a huge spark in the final term, scoring the first 10 points of the term to turn the game on its head.
While the Cougars would again go on a run to hit the front late in the game, the Panthers held their nerve to score 13 of the last 16 points of the game to take a significant win in the context of their season.
Guyton finished with 25 points after playing every second of the game, and also recorded six rebounds and three assists, while Gardiner again had a strong outing with 17 points and 19 boards.
Wallan’s men, however, remain rooted to the bottom of the ladder after a 25-point loss to Mildura at RB Robson Stadium.
A fast start from the Heat in the first term proved to be a bridge too far for the Panthers, who were not able to respond throughout the balance of the day.
Trailing 14-27 at the first change, the Panthers stopped some of the bleeding in the second term as they played well defensively, but couldn’t quite impact on the offensive glass, scoring 12 points for the term as they trailed 26-45 at the main break.
In a high-octane third quarter, Mildura continued to have every answer for Wallan as it led 70-47 at the final change, before eventually running out 91-66 winners.
Jayden O’Brien provided plenty of ammunition off the bench for the Panthers, scoring 19 points, while Lachlan Lombardo, with 14 points, and Jon Bailey, with 12, also scored in double-figures.
Wallan’s men’s Youth League team held on for a one-point win against Craigieburn.
The Panthers made a fast start to lead by 11 points at the opening change and still held a 14-point cushion by the last term, but a furious Craigieburn comeback saw the game on the line with just seconds to play.
A last-ditch effort from the Eagles fell short, and Wallan held on for an 84-83 triumph.
Jamal Abbas led all scorers with 16 points, while Brody Thrum and Hunter Graham scored 15 points apiece.
Wallan’s women’s Youth League team made a late charge at Craigieburn, but it was too little, too late on Saturday night as the Panthers fell to a nine-point loss.
The Panthers fell 20 points behind in the final term, but despite outscoring the Eagles by 11 points in the final term, Craigieburn had enough in reserve to eventually cruise to its 84-75 victory.
Olivia Sweet led all scorers for the Panthers with 18 points, while Kendra Reukers scored 16.
The Panthers will sit out this weekend with the King’s Birthday break before reconvening the following week.
