There aren’t many challenges Hume City Broncos’ women’s side haven’t overcome in Big V state championship basketball in recent seasons.
On Saturday, the two-time reigning title holders went one step closer to ticking off one thing they haven’t achieved in the past two seasons – finishing on top of the ladder.
The Broncos got an all important 67-51 win against Ringwood, the side they have beaten in the past two grand finals and a side that had, until the weekend, lost one match for the season.
In a physical game with several off-the-ball fouls called, the Broncos led by 11 points at quarter-time and 12 points at half-time.
The Hawks continued to press in the second half but couldn’t get any closer than nine points.
The last quarter wasn’t pretty with the Broncos hitting just two field goals, including one on the buzzer, but they still out-scored the Hawks 9-8.
Broncos coach Katrina Hibbert was happy to get the win.
“The girls trained really well all week and that was evident in the first half, to hold a really quality team to 12 points in both quarters,” she said. “It’s great to see we had four to five different people in double digits, which is what it is all about.
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“We only scored nine in the last quarter, as we stopped running and tried to protect the lead not build on it. Ringwood is our nemesis from the last two to three years.”
Hearts were in mouths in the first quarter when star centre Colleen Planeta went down with an ankle injury. She returned to the court, but finished the game on the bench after jarring her knee in the last quarter.
“She is one of our main players –with her on the court they take confidence,” Hibbert said.
“It was good to see Nic [Nicole McMahon] come on and step up … it was good to get a look at different step-ups against Ringwood.”
Planeta top-scored with 17 points but it was the all round game of Nicole Zammit – including 12 points, nine rebounds and seven assists – that was the standout.
“She has that international experience and maturity about her,” Hibbert said. “She understands the tempo of the game.
“She has been really crucial for us, especially in big games, when she steps up for us.”
The win pushes the Broncos a game clear on top of the ladder and gives them a 2-0 record over the Hawks.
“You want to finish on top and give yourself the best chance you can in the finals,” Hibbert said.
