In the latest round of Ballarat basketball action, Ballan Brumbies under 14 girls took on Phoenix Rubys in what was expected to be a tight, defensive matchup, Ballan missing leading scorer Chloe Newton through illness.
The Ballan girls got off to a fast thanks to their watertight defense, their pressure creating turnovers and missed shots that saw Ruby Sims get out on the break to score the Brumbies first six points. With Meg Solterbeck and the excellent Ruby McLeod dictating play, Ballan pushed out to a quick 10-0 lead with 12 minutes played.
After a nervous debut for the club last weekend, Shelby McComb came off the bench to make an immediate impact with six quick points of her own - McLeod again pivotal through her playmaking and defense - as Brumbies extended their lead to 16-4.
Phoenix eventually found their footing, forcing turnovers of their own. Only some desperate last ditch defending from Albi Pike and Addie Jacobs preventing easy baskets for the Phoenix girls. A pair of late Phoenix baskets through the impressive Ruby Cassidy saw the halftime score read 16-8, Ballan in the ascendancy.
After a pair of Sims baskets to open the 2nd half, Phoenix made their run with baskets to Cassidy and Ava Yeoman cutting Ballan's lead to just four, 22-18. Brumbies coach Amy O'Brien called quick timeout to reset her girls mindset and it worked a treat.
With their defensive intensity ratcheted back up, Ballan once again took control of the contest. Overcoming Phoenix's height advantage through outstanding team ball pressure, McLeod (perhaps the best player on the court, despite going scoreless) was able to set Sims and McComb away with precise long passes as Ballan went on a 9-0 run to close out the match. A late pull up jumper from Solterbeck saw Ballan eventually run out 31-18 victors.
U10 Boys D (White) lost to Drummo Dragons Green: 12-19
U10 Boys D (Blue) defeated Sovereign Knights: 26-17
U12 Girls C defeated Saints Mercury: 26-19
U14 Boys F (White) defeated Excies Acmy: 26-20
U14 Boys B lost to Wildcats Blue: 26-35
U14 Girls C defeated Phoenix Rubys: 31-18
U16 Boys F defeated Drummo Dragons Black: 39-22
U16 Boys D lost to Phoenix Pirates: 38-43
U16 Boys B defeated Drummo Dragons Green: 60-31
U16 Girls C defeated Wildcats Blue: 34-14
U19 Boys E lost to Phoenix Breakers 15-59
U19 Boys C drew with Phoenix Pirates: 38-38
U19 Girls drew with Phoenix Gems 35-35