Good teams step it up when they have to and that was the case for Hume City Broncos women against Warrandyte on Sunday.
Although they led by four points at three quarter-time in the Big V state championship clash, the Broncos were anything but in control.
Then up stepped their big names and they went on a 23-10 run in the final quarter to win 76-59.
Broncos’ coach Katrina Hibbert said it was the usual names that stepped up.
She said they expected the Venom to tire late in the game having come off an overtime win the night before.
“It was a little close for my liking,” Hibbert said.
“They probably won three out of the four quarters, but we had the talent and depth to play really well in the last quarter to get the win.
“Viv [Saad] was great on the boards and defensively, [Nicole] Zammit good as well while Mua
Laloifi was running the ball and Colleen [Planeta] got under the ring more.”
Planeta top-scored with 25 points, while Saad and Zammit scored late points to finish with 17 apiece.
The win was the Broncos’ seventh in a row and it cemented their place on top of the ladder.
Hibbert said the girls responded well to her calls for more application both on the court and at training.
“We’re taking steps in the right direction and it’s about putting enough wins on the board,” she said.
“We want to get the mental edge over the good sides.”
While the Broncos have been racking up the wins, Hibbert said they had also been looking at the big picture.
Guard and on-court general Nicole Zammit will play this weekend before heading overseas for six weeks.
With that in mind, Hibbert has been trying different line-ups in the last few weeks, including starting Natalie Karantzoulis.
“She’s a great shooter and great at defence,” Hibbert said. “She may find herself at the number one position while Nicole is away.
“We’re working on what will be our strengths, and that includes our depth and we need to get some balance on the court.
“Mon [Andriuolo] and Yinka [Olorunnife] may have to play the three position and we’ll be a bigger side on the wing.
“We need try to get everyone to help make up the 15 points and eight assists [that Zammit normally gets].”
The club remains unsure when Samara Gallaher will return to the court.
Gallaher, who is in the mix for the New Zealand team trying to qualify for the Olympics, hasn’t played since April 2 because of the side effects of concussion.
It ruled her out of the Tall Ferns’ Olympic qualifying campaign.
“We’re a little concerned by the number of concussions she’s had over the last few years, so we want her to tick the boxes,” Hibbert said.
“She’s still not feeling great. She saw a neurologist in New Zealand and he gave her the all-clear.
“When she returns, we’ll work her back into it.
“She might have to make minor adjustments to her game to help prevent this.”
Hibbert said Nikki Spencer was on the comeback trail from injury and would add another element to the side.
Meanwhile, the Broncos men needed every second of the game and more to beat Werribee Devils on Sunday.
Like the previous times the teams met, the match went down to the wire and they could not be separated at the end of regular time.
The Broncos went on to take the win 114-113 in overtime.
It was a big night for Lee Jeka, who played all 45 minutes. He scored 40 points, including making seven of 14 shots from beyond the three-point line.
