WALLAN’s men continued its terrific run of form to open the Country Basketball League season, while the women are still plotting to take its first win of the year.
The weekend started with a double-header for both teams at Myrtleford.
The women tipped off to start proceedings, but it was the Saints who got the jump on the Panthers, leading by 13 points at the first change, before extending their lead to 23 by the long break.
Wallan was a lot more competitive in the second half, but the damage was well and truly done, with the Panthers eventually losing 73-99.
Carley Cranston was a reliable scorer for Wallan, scoring 18 points, including four threes from behind the arc, while Madeline Daoud scored 13 points and Maddison Delbridge 11.
In a reversal of the women’s match, it was the men’s Panthers who stormed out of the blocks, leading by seven points at quarter time, before extending their margin to 17 by the long break.
A back-and-forth third quarter followed, but the Panthers again secured a break in the last term by scoring 31 points to 22 to eventually finish up 96-68 winners.
Ryan Philippe drove to the cup with ease, scoring 20 points, while Brody Thrum displayed his three-level scoring abilities in finishing with 16 points. Jayden O’Brien’s 13 points and Dion Stacey’s 11 ensured it would be a good night for the Panthers.
The Panthers navigated their back-to-back with a second meeting against Wodonga in a week.
Wallan’s women’s match was a repeat of the game the previous night against Myrtleford, where a slow start cost the Panthers dearly.
Trailing by 12 points after the opening frame, the Panthers could only manage four points in the second term, with the game essentially over as they trailed by 21 at the main break.
However, despite that, Wallan can take some confidence over going bucket-for-bucket in the second half as it eventually lost 49-74.
Melissa Buckley scored 12 points, while Cranston added 10.
The men’s Panthers blew the Wolves away in the opening half en route to a 31-point victory.
Thirty-one points to 19 in the first quarter, followed by 33 points to 18 in the second, ensured the game was over by half time, with the Panthers leading by 27 points, before cruising to a 107-76 triumph.
It was Philippe who again starred, scoring 28 points as he proved to be a straight bucket across the weekend, while Lachlan Lombardo was a flamethrower from beyond the arc with four threes as part of his 18 points.
Seymour’s women were the only Blasters team to take to the court, with the men’s team enjoying their bye, but they were no match for Wodonga on Saturday night.
The Blasters were no match for Molly Moylan, who dropped a 40-piece for the Wolves as they recorded a comfortable 94-51 victory.
Chloe Dimkopoulos gave her all against the tide, and finished with 16 points, while Isla Whitford also scored 10 points to support her.
