Tara Murray
Craigieburn Eagles are heading in the right direction in the Big V women’s division 1 competition.
After a tough 2022 season, the new look Eagles have split their results so far this season, digging in fifth spot having played eight games.
Eagles coach Andrew Seidel said they had shown some really good signs.
“We are middle of the road,” he said. “We are happy with how things are going.
“We still have some room for improvement. We won three in a row a couple of weeks back and everyone started having a look at us.
“But we’re not quite where we want to be.
“We’ll put a few things in place to put in place for the back end of the season.”
On Saturday, the Eagles faced ladder leaders Western Port on the road.
The Steelers jumped out of the blocks and led by 11 points at quarter time. The margin was reduced to one at the main break.
The Steelers found something different in the third quarter and opened the lead back up to 14 points heading into the final quarter.
The lead would prove too much, with the Steelers winning 70-57.
Seidel, who wasn’t at the game, said he had received some feedback on how the match had played out.
“There were a couple of little errors that we made,” he said.
“We didn’t make some adjustments, hopefully we can get them next time. It was a good test against a top side.”
Import Courtney Strait top scored with the Eagles with 20 points. Seidel said Strait, who was in her first season in Australia, was fitting in really well and proving to be one of the best players in the competition,
The Eagles this week host Mildura. In their first match of the season between the two sides back in round two, Mildura won by two points.
In the men’s division 2 competition, the Eagles lost a thriller to the Maccabi Warriors in double overtime.
After trailing in the first half, the Eagles got back into the game in the third quarter to lead by one point.
Scores were locked at 75-apeice at the final whistle.
Both teams managed just three points in the first over time, before the Warriors outscored the Eagles, 8-5 in the second period to get an 86-83 win.
Meanwhile in the state championship division, the Hume City Broncos men beat Western Port 109-100 on Saturday night.
Shaun Prendergast turned back the clock and top scored with 30 points in the over time win.
In the state championship women, the Broncos lost to the Pakenham Warriors, 74-67.
In division 2 men, the Whittlesea Pacers continued their good form with an 110-79 win against the Melton Thoroughbreds.
