Seymour’s Marley Pascoe closes down a shot from Shepparton’s Abby Commadeur. Photos: Sandra Michalitsis.
Photo by
Sandra Michalitsis
Seymour Blasters suffered an agonising loss in round four of the Country Basketball League North East Women competition at the weekend, departing Shepparton Sports Stadium with a third defeat on the bounce despite a strong first half.
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Travelling to Shepparton to take on the Gators on Saturday evening off the back of consecutive losses in rounds two and three, the Blasters were looking to break the losing streak and initially made a positive start to lead comfortably at half-time, although they eventually went on to suffer a devastating 55-59 defeat.
It was all Seymour early in the first term as the Blasters got off to a flyer, pouring in the first four baskets to lead 9-0 following the opening exchanges. While the Gators eventually got on the board, at one stage closing to within three points, the Blasters had built enough of an early cushion to head into the quarter-time huddle up 14-10.
The Blasters made their move in the second term as Marley Pascoe and Justine Walker caught fire, capitalising on the pressure across the entire court to shoot eight and six points respectively to combine for 14 of Seymour’s 17 points for the quarter, outscoring Shepparton by nine to head into the main break with a sizeable 31-18 advantage.
Seymour Blasters coach Carly Stones draws up a play for the huddle.
Photo by
Sandra Michalitsis
The Blasters stretched the lead to a game-high 15 at one stage early in the third term, leading 36-21, before the Gators worked their way back into the contest, shooting 17 of the final 24 points for the third term to move within five at three-quarter time, leaving Seymour with a 43-38 lead.
It quickly turned to a shootout from beyond the arc in the final term, and while the first four baskets from range were split two apiece, Shepparton proved more accurate for a longer period, nailing a further two to erase the deficit and move into the lead at 50-49.
With just under three minutes remaining, Pascoe drew the Blasters level again at 52-52. However, the Gators had one final dagger left, burying a three-pointer with 2:09 left on the clock to put the game beyond reach, as Seymour fell to a 55-59 defeat.
Seymour’s Aleisha Watson defends against Shepparton’s Elliana Gray.
Photo by
Sandra Michalitsis
Macey Watson forces Shepparton’s Elliana Gray to offload the ball.
Photo by
Sandra Michalitsis
Pascoe and Walker led the way with an equal game-high 14 points each, while Alex Martorella (7), Kasey Lennox (6) and Paige Schultz (6) were also valuable contributors.
The Blasters will look to snap the streak in round five this weekend, with a double-header seeing them host Swan Hill on Saturday evening before travelling to Wallan on Sunday afternoon.
The Blasters apply pressure inside the paint.
Photo by
Sandra Michalitsis
It proved a much more straightforward affair for the Blasters’ men in their North East Men clash with Shepparton, securing a mammoth 99-45 victory on Saturday night at Shepparton Sports Stadium.
The win was set up off the back of a monster 30-15 opening term in favour of Seymour, with a further 19-9 second term ensuring the Blasters enjoyed a mammoth 49-24 lead by half-time.
Not content with merely winning, the Blasters put the foot down even further in the second half, opening up a 38-point advantage at the final change after a 23-10 third term, before climbing out to the eventual 54-point victory with a 27-11 final quarter.
Tyler Best once again top-scored in the win for the Blasters, adding another 22 points to his season tally, while Jack Murphy (13), Harry Stones (13), Jesse Brock (11), Robbie Sartori (11) and Jacob Wolznier (11) all reached double digits in the win.
The Blasters will host Benalla Breakers on Saturday evening in the first of their two clashes this weekend, before travelling to Wallan as they look to exact revenge for their only defeat so far this season.
