It’s been a difficult start for Hume City Broncos to the Big V women’s championship season, but they’re hoping to build as the year goes on.
The Broncos under new coach Brooke Davenport have been hit by injuries and unavailabilities, limiting their impact to field a full team.
Speaking before the weekend’s match, Davenport said it hadn’t been the start they were after.
“We’ve had a few injuries,” she said. “Our main shooting guard Samantha [Labros] did her ACL in game three.
“Georgia Keighan has missed games with injury as well but is returning this week. Keena Holt missed a week while she was back in the states and Sarah Portlock had a week at an Australian training camp and then getting her wisdom teeth.
“She’s then heading off to college and we won’t get a full season out of her.
“We’ve been plagued by a bit of injury which isn’t good, but other players have stepped up which is the positive out of it.”
Davenport said they’ve had three youth league players stepping up, taking another step in their development.
She highlighted Madeline Holland, who was doing a really good job handling the ball, captain Tashia Overby and Genevieve Mucha as some who had stepped up in the absence of others.
Davenport said they were creating an environment that they wanted to build on.
“They have done well and got the job done,” she said. “It’s good for development and they’ve done well with younger juniors stepping up.
“The culture is better and that’s a really good positive and everyone is getting around each other.
“When you lose one of your main players in round one, it’s hard to play the next day.”
On Saturday night, the Broncos lost to the Bulleen Boomers, 83-68.
Davenport said they thought it was a really winnable game entering the contest.
The Boomers jumped out to a 29-13 lead at quarter time and the Broncos had to do the chasing for the rest of the match.
Madeline Holland top scored with 23 points for the Broncos.
Speaking before the match, Davenport said playing for the full 40 minutes was their big focus going forward.
“We gave up nearly 60 points in the first half against the top team and then lost by 14 points,” she said.
“It shows what we can do when we put it together. We beat Wyndham the other week and were great in the second and fourth quarter, but not going out there for 40 minutes.”
The Broncos me had a win on Saturday night, beating the Blackburn Vikings, 102-99.
Kavione Green top scored with 28 points.
