This week in Ballan Brumbies basketball action, the U12 girls, sitting in 2nd on the ladder, took on 3rd place Saints Mystics. With Ballan still a possibility of finishing the regular season in top of the table, a win here was imperative and coach Heath Cooper had his girls firing from the jump.
Ballan scored the first eight points of the contest, Victoria Taylor responsible for six of those and debutant Kaylee Stancliffe, set up by the improving Emma Karimi, the other two.
The match threatened to blow up midway through the half when diminutive Brumbies guard Grace Monterosso got caught up in an altercation with Saint Emmi Nairn, though the referee quickly had them sort out their differences (somewhat amicably).
Saints eventually got on the board through Ava Vallance - impressive all game - but quick baskets to Millie Grech and Brandi Mulgrew - who literally danced back down the court in celebration - saw Brumbies take a comfortable 12-2 lead into half time.
The 2nd half was a much tighter affair as Saints belatedly found their rhythm. A pair of buckets by Emma Brown and another from Vallance had Saints right back in the contest before Mulgrew and Stancliffe scored to steady the ship for Ballan.
The match started to become a defensive struggle as neither team could find the basket. Taylor eventually broke the scoreless run after rebounding an Esther Seketa miss with Grech quickly adding another two points as Ballan got back in the groove to pull away to a commanding 26-12 win that should secure 2nd place in the ladder, at least, with four rounds to play before finals. Under 10 Boys D lost to Drummo Dragons 18-25 Under 10 Boys B lost to Celtic Tigers 17-20 Under 12 Boys E defeated Phoenix Gladiators 24-11 Under 12 Boys C defeated Saints Wizards 28-20 Under 12 Girls defeated Saints Mystics 26-12 Under 14 Boys F White defeated Drummo Dragons 29-20 Under 14 Boys F Blue lost to Phoenix Razorbacks 20-21 Under 14 Boys D defeated Wildcats 32-19 Under 14 Boys C defeated Sovereign Knights 40-27 Under 14 Girls D defeated Saints Rangers 27-14 Under 14 Girls B defeated Wildcats 23-14 Under 16 Boys G White lost to Phoenix Rollers 15-41 Under 16 Boys G Blue lost to Phoenix Rush 8-57 Under 16 Boys E lost to Phoenix Mavericks 29-30 Under 19 Boys H lost to Saints Jets 28-58 Under 19 Boys E defeated Saints Pirates 49-25 Under 19 Boys D defeated Sovereign Knights 28-21 Under 19 Girls defeated Phoenix Sky 21-13
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